Neutron, Electrical, and Magnetic Investigations of the PrFeO₃–PbTiO₃ System

Abstract

The solid solutions of the (1- x )PrFeO 3 – x PbTiO 3 system were explored for the purpose of finding ferroelectromagnetism. Neutron diffraction data were collected at room temperature to 700°C and refined by the Rietveld method for magnetic and crystal structure analyses. Dielectric permittivity ( ε r ) and loss tangent were measured by a low-frequency impedance analyzer for varying frequency. The hysteresis curves of the polarization-electric field and magnetization-magnetic field were measured at room temperature. At room temperature, the crystal structure symmetry of the solid solutions change from orthorhombic to tetragonal i.e., Pbnm, I4 cm, and P4 mm with increasing PbTiO 3 content. The solid solution at x =0.8 undergoes structural transition from tetragonal to cubic phase with increasing temperature in a series of I4 cm, I4/mcm (P4/mmm), and Pm3m. The solid solution composition of 0.4≤ x ≤0.6 exhibited ferromagnetism and the compositions of x ≥0.4 were ferroelectric.