Structural correlation to ferroelectric order, non-Griffiths like phase and magnetocaloric effect in YbCrO4

Abstract

We report a ferroelectric order around ∼99 K (T FE), which is considerably above the long range ferrimagnetic order at 25 K (T N ). The value of saturation electric polarization is considerable as ∼570 μC m−2 for a poling field of 5 kV cm−1. The ferroelectric order is associated with a significant magnetoelectric coupling below ∼90 K. A weak signature of T FE is observed in the dielectric constant, which is associated with a linear magnetodielectric response at 18 K . A transition to a polar structure has been correlated with the occurrence of ferroelectric order. A non-Griffiths like phase is observed around ∼48 K, which is also linked with the structural distortion. A reasonable value of the magnetic entropy change of 5.07 J Kg−1 K−1 is noted at T N for a change in field of 50 kOe, which involves a strong magnetoelastic coupling. The results indicate considerable structural instabilities, which is linked with the observed multifunctional properties of YbCrO4.