Multiferroic behaviour in Sm1-xYxMnO3

Abstract

We have successfully induced multiferroic behaviour in SmMnO3 by the substitution of Y at the Sm site. Detailed investigations on polycrystalline Sm1-xYxMnO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.6) compounds show that as x is increased, an additional magnetic transition is seen at ∼21K, for substitution levels around x = 0.4. The dielectric properties investigated in the compounds in this temperature range reveal an anomaly coincident with the magnetic transition, indicative of a transition similar to that seen in multiferroics such as TbMnO3. Magnetic and dielectric properties of this new multiferroic system are presented. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.