Investigation of structure and magnetic properties of Ru-doped YMnO3

Abstract

A series of polycrystalline YMn1−xRuxO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.2) samples were prepared by traditional solid-state reaction method. Effects of doping on the microstructures and magnetic properties were investigated. Microstructural results reveal that samples crystallize in a single hexagonal structure with P63cm group for x ≤ 0.1. Lattice parameters a, c, and unit-cell volume of YMn1−xRuxO3 are found to increase with doping content, which are ascribed to the larger radius of Ru3+ than that of Mn3+. Weak ferromagnetism is found and is enhanced with increasing doping concentration x. The bond angles of Mn-O3-Mn and Mn-O4-Mn are changed in the opposite trends, which break the Mn-Mn exchange interaction, thus the antiferromagnetic ordering. The MnO5 bipyramid is found to be relieved and the trimerization of Mn ions is weakened. These structural modifications result in the increase of weak ferromagnetism ordering in samples.