Ferroelectricity induced by non-symmetry of A-site cations in hexagonal antiferromagnetic In1–xYbxFeO3 (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) perovskites

Abstract

A new series of multiferroic In1–xYbxFeO3 (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) compounds were prepared using the traditional synthesis method for the first time. Partially substituting In ions in InFeO3 with Yb ions results in the weak ferroelectricity of the compound. A dielectric relaxation peak is found at ∼500 K in the temperature dependence of the dielectric properties of the resulted compounds. The dielectric constant of In0.8Yb0.2FeO3 displays an anomaly at ∼500 K, and the ferroelectric hysteresis loop reveals its weak ferroelectric behaviors below this temperature. Similarly to InFeO3, the compounds crystallize in space group P63/mmc. The increase in the Yb content leads to an increment in a and a reduction in c parameters. The temperature dependence of magnetization for In0.8Yb0.2FeO3 gives a Néel temperature of ∼150 K. The hysteresis loops at 10 and 100 K indicate its weak ferromagnetic characteristics above room temperature. Thus, In1–xYbxFeO3 (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) compounds show both weak ferroelectricity and weak ferromagnetism. The non-symmetry of Yb cations causes the ferroelectricity of the compounds.