Magnetic structure and magnetodielectric effect of YFe0.5Cr0.5O3

Abstract

X-ray diffraction studies reveal Pnma space group for YFe0.5Cr0.5O3. The Neel temperature for YFe0.5Cr0.5O3 is found to be ∼275 K using temperature dependence of magnetization and neutron diffraction studies. The variation of magnetization with applied magnetic field shows a hysteresis loop at 20 K, which depicts a weak ferromagnetic behavior. Rietveld refinement of the neutron diffraction data divulge a canted antiferromagnetic structure (Γ4 = GzFyAx) for YFe0.5Cr0.5O3. Dielectric measurement depicts a relaxor like transition (peak at ∼507 K for 10 kHz) for YFe0.5Cr0.5O3. An anomaly in the magnetization curve around this transition temperature points the possibility of magnetodielectric effect in YFe0.5Cr0.5O3. Non-Debye type relaxation is observed with activation energy of 0.40 eV at low temperature and 1.01 eV at high temperature. At high temperatures, oxygen ion vacancies are found to contribute to the conduction process in addition to polaron hopping.