Ferroelectricity and weak ferromagnetism of hexagonal ErFe O3 thin films

Hiroko Yokota, Tomoya Nozue, Shin Nakamura, Hajime Hojo, Mamoru Fukunaga, Pierre Eymeric Janolin, Jean Michel Kiat, Akio Fuwa

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Hexagonal ErFeO3 thin films fabricated by a pulsed laser deposition method were investigated by x-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy. No structural phase transition was observed between 20 and 900 K. Ferroelectric D-E hysteresis loops were obtained at room temperature using the double-wave method, and the magnitude of spontaneous polarization was determined to be 200nC/cm2. The existence of superlattice reflections in the XRD indicates that the space group of ErFeO3 thin film is the polar hexagonal P63cm. This result also supports the ferroelectricity at room temperature. Magnetic properties were examined by a superconducting quantum interference device and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Below the Néel temperature of 120 K (TN), a weak ferromagnetism appears along the c axis due to the canting of Fe3+ magnetic moments. Around TN, the imaginary part of dielectric constant shows an anomaly. These results prove h-ErFeO3 thin films to be multiferroic below 120 K.

Original languageEnglish
Article number054101
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume92
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 3 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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