Investigation of magnetic, dielectric and electrical properties of Ce-substituted YMn0.8Fe0.2O3 multiferroic ceramics

Abstract

Y1−xCexMn0.8Fe0.2O3 (x = 0, 0.05 and 0.1) solid solution ceramics were prepared and the magnetic, dielectric and electrical properties were investigated. The structures of the present ceramics were maintained in hexagonal P63cm space group as the ferroelectric YMnO3. The magnetic structures of the solid solution ceramics were not uniform, and all the compositions were predominantly antiferromagnetic with weak ferromagnetic properties at low temperature. The antiferromagnetic transition temperatures of the present ceramics were decreased upon Ce substitution, originating in the weakened antiferromagnetic exchange interactions of Mn3+ ions. Varied valence distributions of Fe and Mn ions led to the effective paramagnetic moment decreasing with Ce introduction. Compared with YMn0.8Fe0.2O3, the dielectric loss of Y0.95Ce0.05Mn0.8Fe0.2O3 ceramics was reduced and the resistivity was enhanced, which should be related to the decreased Mn2+ content in the mixed structure of Mn ions. Whereas, the presence of Mn3+–Mn4+ ions pair led to the increased conductivity and dielectric loss in the Y0.9Ce0.1Mn0.8Fe0.2O3 ceramics.