Structure and physical properties of Eu_0.8Y_0.2MnO₃ ceramics

This work is addressed to study the crystal structure and morphology, as well as the thermodynamic, dielectric and magnetic properties of Eu_0.8Y_0.2MnO₃ ceramics, synthesized by urea sol-gel combustion method. The experimental results were systematically compared with data available for the corresponding single crystals. Though the effect of the anisotropy on both dielectric and magnetic properties is missing, they enabled us to investigate the main physical mechanisms associated with their magnetoelectric properties, in particular the one which drives the ferroelectric phase. The phase sequence and critical temperatures are in good agreement with the corresponding values reported for single crystals. Similarly, structural results evidence strong distortions of the crystal lattice, enhancing the ferromagnetic interactions over the antiferomagnetic ones. A significant contribution of the magnetic fluctuations above T_N was also evidenced from the magnetization studies.