Magnetic and dielectric properties of YbFe_2-xMn_xO₄ (0≤x≤1)

We have investigated the magnetic and dielectric properties of YbFe_2-xMn_xO₄ (0≤x≤1), which is an Fe-site-substituted system of new multiferroic oxides RFe₂O₄ (R=Y, Ho-Lu). X-ray diffraction measurements show that a solid solution is formed between YbFe₂O₄ (x=0) and YbFeMnO₄ (x=1) for 0≤x≤1, whereas only compounds with x=1 (i.e., RM₁M₂O₄; M₁ and M₂=trivalent and divalent cations, respectively) have been known for the Fe-site substitution in RFe₂O₄. The valence of the Mn ion is determined to be ∼2+, consistently with the suppression of low-temperature magnetization by the Mn substitution. The magnetic transition temperature (T_N) and the dielectric constant (ε′) decrease monotonically with increasing x. This result plausibly confirms that the magnetic and dielectric properties in oxides isostructural with RFe₂O₄ are governed by the electron transfer between Fe-site ions, unlike ordinary ferroelectrics and dielectrics, in which the ionic displacement plays a key role. The possibility for application is briefly discussed as well.