Neutron, electrical, and magnetic investigations of the PrFeO3-PbTiO3 system

The solid solutions of the (1-x)PrFeO3-xPbTiO3 system were explored for the purpose of finding ferroelectromagnetism. Neutron diffraction data were collected at room temperature to 700degC and refined by the Rietveld method for magnetic and crystal structure analyses. Dielectric permittivity (εr) 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, I4cm, and P4mm with increasing PbTiO3 content. The solid solution at x=0.8 undergoes structural transition from tetragonal to cubic phase with increasing temperature in a series of I4cm, 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. (author)