Crystal structure and multiferroic behavior of perovskite YFeO3

Abstract We present a study of multiferroic properties of YFeO3 synthesized by means of high-energy ball milling assisted by annealing at low temperature. Fe2O3 and Y2O3 powders were mixed in a stoichiometric ratio, milled for 5 h, pressed and annealed at temperature from 773 to 1073 K. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of single-phase orthorhombic structure. Magnetic hysteresis loops, at room temperature, from vibrating sample magnetometry show the transition from ferromagnetic order to G-antiferromagnetic order, related to the transformation from amorphous to crystalline orthorhombic single phase. The value of Neel temperature of single phase YFeO3 was obtained at 595 K, lower than previously reported. Dielectric behavior at room temperature of YFeO3 single-phase sample shows a direct dependence with frequency of both dielectric constant and dielectric loss, in good agreement with Maxwell-Wagner effect. A fit made using Cole-Cole equation shows that the Low Temperature Dielectric Relaxation, LTDR, corresponds to a Debye-type relaxation. Finally, it was found that AC conductivity (σAC) increases linearly with frequency. All results show that YFeO3 synthesized by high-energy ball milling assisted with annealing possess a multiferroic behavior.