Room-Temperature Antiferroelectricity in Multiferroic Hexagonal Rare-Earth Ferrites

Abstract

The antiferroelectric (AFE) phase, in which nonpolar and polar states are switchable by an electric field, is a recent discovery in promising multiferroics of hexagonal rare-earth manganites (ferrites), h-RMn(Fe)O₃. However, this phase has so far only been observed at 60-160 K, which restricts key investigations into the microstructures and magnetoelectric behaviors. Herein, we report the successful expansion of the AFE temperature range (10-300 K) by preparing h-DyFeO₃ films through epitaxial stabilization. Room-temperature scanning transmission electron microscopy reveals that the AFE phase originates from a nanomosaic structure comprising AFE P3̅c1 and ferroelectric P6₃cm domains with small domain sizes of 1-10 nm. The nanomosaic structure is stabilized by a low c/a ratio derived from the large ionic radius of Dy³⁺. Furthermore, weak ferromagnetism and magnetocapacitance behaviors are observed. Below 10 K, the film exhibits an M-shaped magnetocapacitance versus magnetic field curve, indicating unusual magnetoelectric coupling in the AFE phase.