Antiferromagnetic and relaxor-type ferroelectric behavior in iron doped GdCrO₃

Here we present the comparative study of the structural, magnetic and dielectric properties of 960 nm thick film and bulk pellet of single-phase polycrystalline GdFe_0.5Cr_0.5O₃. The film was fabricated on a platinized-silicon substrate by solution deposition and spin-coating methods. The bulk pellet was synthesized by the citrate solution route. Magnetic measurements show Néel temperature~ 270 K for both the bulk and the film whereas dielectric measurements show ferroelectric to paraelectric T_C ~ 525 K for bulk and 450 K for the film. The frequency dependent dielectric data of both samples is found to follow Vogel-Fulcher relation that implies relaxor-type diffusive ferroelectric behavior. Interfacial Maxwell–Wagner polarization was also observed at low frequencies. The electric polarization hysteresis loops, although leaky, are observed at room temperature revealing multiferroic nature. Details and discussion of these results will be presented.