Ferroelectricity induced by non-symmetry of A-site cations in hexagonal antiferromagnetic In_(1-x)Yb_(x)FeO_(3)(x=0.1,0.2,0.3) perovskites

A new series of multiferroic In_(1-x)Yb_(x)FeO_(3)(x=0.1,0.2,0.3) compounds were prepared using the traditional synthesis method for the first time.Partially substituting In ions in InFeO3with Yb ions results in the weak ferroelectricity of the compound.A dielectric relaxation peak is found at ~500 K in the temperature dependence of the dielectric properties of the resulted compounds.The dielectric constant of In_(0.8)Yb_(0.2)FeO_(3)displays an anomaly at -500 K,and the ferroelectric hysteresis loop reveals its weak ferroelectric behaviors below this temperature.Similarly to InFeO_(3),the compounds crystallize in space group P63/mmc.The increase in the Yb content leads to an increment in a and a reduction in c parameters.The temperature dependence of magnetization for In_(0.8)Yb_(0.2)FeO_(3)gives a Néel temperature of -150 K.The hysteresis loops at 10 and 100 K indicate its weak ferromagnetic characteristics above room temperature.Thus,In_(1-x)Yb_(x)FeO_(3)(x=0.1,0.2,0.3) compounds show both weak ferroelectricity and weak ferromagnetism.The non-symmetry of Yb cations causes the ferroelectricity of the compounds.