Lanthanum doped multiferroic DyFeO3: Structural and magnetic properties

Lanthanum doped multiferroic DyFeO3 was synthesized by solid state reaction. X-ray diffraction and refinement show that the lattice parameters of Dy1−xLaxFeO3 increase linearly with the La content. Raman spectroscopy reveals that the short-range force constant in Dy1−xLaxFeO3 is decreased by La3+ ion substitution. The spin reorientation phase transition temperature (TSRPT) is observed to decrease along with the doping level. The antiferromagnetic ordering temperature TN of Fe3+ ions is depressed with increasing doping level. Both decreasing TSRPT and decreasing TN indicate that Fe–Dy and Fe–Fe interactions are weakened by La substitution. It is found that the electron configuration of Fe3+ is high spin state and not affected by the La doping in all the samples above TN.