Novel Magnetization Induced by Phase Coexistence in Multiferroic HoCrO₃ Chromites

Abstract

Single-phase HoCrO₃ samples were prepared using the conventional solid-state reaction. The temperature dependence of dc magnetic properties show that the ZFC and FC magnetization curves are irreversible strongly and nearly symmetrical below 141.0 K under 100 Oe. Moreover, there appears a novel magnetization behavior with negative magnetization (diamagnetism-like) characteristics. This behavior exhibits the coexistence of canted antiferromagnetic and weak ferromagnetic phase and the existence of competition mechanism below T_c1 = 141.0 K. In addition, it is also proved that Ho ion ordered weak CAFM below 7.5 K. The current novel magnetization can be interpreted from the interaction between paramagnetic Ho³⁺ moments and canted Cr³⁺ moments.

Keywords:

• Multiferroic
• HoCrO₃ chromites
• negative magnetization
• canted antiferromagnetism (CAFM)
• magnetic interaction

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, 10774097, 10674092), Program for Changjiang Scholars and Innovative Research Team in University (IRT0739), The Science & Technology Committee of Shanghai Municipality (08dj1400202, 07JC14022), The Science and Technology Innovation Fund of the Shanghai Education Committee (09ZZ95), The Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province (092300410138), and the Basic Research Plan on Natural Science of the education department of Henan Province (2009A140010).