Weak ferromagnetic transition with a dielectric anomaly in hexagonal Lu0.5Sc0.5FeO3.
Lu1-xScxFeO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) was synthesized by a conventional solid-state reaction. The hexagonal phase appeared at 0.4 ≤ x ≤ 0.6, between the perovskite phase (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3) and the bixbyite phase (0.7 ≤ x ≤ 1). Structural, magnetic, and dielectric properties of hexagonal Lu0.5Sc0.5FeO3 were investigated. Synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that the crystal structure of Lu0.5Sc0.5FeO3 is isomorphic to hexagonal ferroelectrics RMnO3 (R = rare earth ion) with a polar space group of P63cm. A weak ferromagnetic transition with a dielectric anomaly occurred at a much higher temperature (162 K) than those in hexagonal RMnO3. Although remanent magnetization was observed below the transition temperature, it decreased to almost zero at 10 K. These results indicate a strong antiferromagnetic interaction between ground-state Fe(3+) ions on the triangular lattice.
Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo , Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8505, Japan.
Atsunobu
A
Masuno
Atsushi
A
Ishimoto
Chikako
C
Moriyoshi
Naoaki
N
Hayashi
Hitoshi
H
Kawaji
Yoshihiro
Y
Kuroiwa
Hiroyuki
H
Inoue