材料期刊网

The effect of nonmagnetic Y partial substitution at the Dy site in Dy(1-x)Y(x)MnO(3) up to x=0.2 on magnetism, specific heat, and ferroelectricity is investigated, which resulted in a preliminary multiferroic phase diagram. It is revealed that the Y partial substitution suppresses the Dy-spin ordering point (T(Dy)) and ferroelectric ordering point (T(FE)) but enhances the Mn-spin ordering point (T(N)). The interaction between the spins of Dy and Mn is remarkably affected by Y substitution. The measured electrical polarization depends on the Y substitution in a complex way because the ferroelectricity is sensitive to the interaction between the spins of Dy and Mn. (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3536506]