Study on the solid solution of YMn1−xFexO3: Structural, magnetic and dielectric properties

The solid solution of YMn1−xFexO3 (x=0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0) was synthesized from the citrate precursor route. The hexagonal crystal structure related to YMnO3 was stable for x⩽0.3. Rietveld refinement was carried out on the composition for x=0.3 and was refined to a major hexagonal phase (∼97%) with 3% of orthorhombic Y(Fe/Mn)O3 phase. The a-axis lattice constant increases and the c-axis lattice constant decreases with x for x⩽0.2. The increase in the c-axis lattice constant at x=0.3 could be due to the doping of significant amount of d5 ion (high spin Fe3+ ion) in a trigonal bipyramidal crystal field. The detailed structural, magnetic and dielectric properties are discussed.