Evidence of magnetoelectric and magnetoelastic coupling in multiferroic Pb(Fe_0.667W_0.33)O₃

Multiferroics are important class of materials which posses at least two ferroic orders (ferroelectric, (anti)ferromagnetic, or ferroelastics) coexisting simultaneously. These are being explored for the potential applications in new multifunctional devices including novel sensors, filters and spin-valves, biosensors and memory storage devices. Here we have synthesized and investigated Pb(Fe_0.667W_0.33)O₃ multiferroic material by the low temperature sintering method (modified SSR method). In this method, the formation of secondary phases was controlled in achieving single phase. We have studied the magneto structural phase transition of Pb(Fe_0.667W_0.33)O₃ through temperature dependent Neutron Diffraction (ND) experiments. Rietveld refinement studies on ND data taken in the temperature range 2 to 300 K reveal pronounced anomalies in the unit cell parameters at T_N and T_C, indicating strong magnetoelastic coupling. Dielectric anomalies observed at ferroelectric (at 200K) and antiferromagnetic (380K) transition temperatures of the Pb(Fe_0.667W_0.33)O₃ found to be associated with magnetoelectric coupling. We correlate these results with chemical and magnetic structure studies using neutron powder diffraction techniques. Hence the using results of neutron diffraction and dielectric measurements we show that the title compound exhibits magnetoelectric and magnetoelastic coupling. (author)