Composition dependent magnetic and ferroelectric properties of hydrothermally synthesized GdFeCrO (0.1 ≤ x ≤ 0.9) perovskites.

The hydrothermal synthesis and magnetic, dielectric and ferroelectric property characterization of ABO-perovskite GdFeCrO (0 < x < 1) are reported. The mineralizer KOH plays a critical role in the perovskite structure of the sample. The Fe/Cr ratio of the final crystal is controlled by the alkalinity in the initial reaction mixtures. The lattice parameters and magnetic ordering transition temperature have a close relationship with the Fe/Cr ratio. The temperature dependent magnetic properties of GdFeCrO (0 < x < 1) samples show a close relationship with substituent ratios of Cr. The occurrence of ferromagnetic behavior in all of the as-prepared samples comes from the coexistence of canted-antiferromagnetism due to the double exchange effect of Fe-O-Fe and Cr-O-Cr and ferromagnetism due to superexchange interaction of Fe-O-Cr. A large spontaneous polarization was observed in GdFeCrO at room temperature, exhibiting a clear ferroelectric hysteresis loop, which indicates the ferroelectric behavior in this system. This work not only provides an effective route to the controllable synthesis of B-site doped REFeCrO perovskite structure materials, but also presents a comprehensive study of the tunable effect of ionic doping on ferroelectric properties.