Novel multiferroic La0.95Sb0.05FeO3 orthoferrite

A series of La1−xSbxFeO3 was prepared using the conventional solid state method. XRD revealed the formation of the orthorhombic structure with space group Pbnm. The data showed that, the molar magnetic susceptibility and coercive field HC were increased from 9.16 × 10−3 to 26.9 × 10−3 emu g−1 mol and 1196 to 5465 Oe from for LaFeO3 to La0.95Sb0.05FeO3, respectively. The coercive field (HC) of the sample with x = 0.05 increased 6 times than that of the parent LaFeO3 and the saturation magnetization (Ms) was increased from 0.1614 emu g−1 for the parent LaFeO3 to 0.2654 emu g−1 for the doped sample. The dielectric constant (ɛ′) was increased with increasing the Sb3+ content. The ac conductivity (σ) increases from 2.36 × 10−3 Ω−1 m−1 for the LaFeO3 to 30 × 10−3 Ω−1 m−1 for the sample La0.95Sb0.05FeO3 at T = 553 K and frequency 1 MHz. The sample La0.95Sb0.05FeO3 is concluded to be a novel single phase multiferroic material.

► A novel multiferroic material is presented for the 1st time La0.95Sb0.05FeO3 and recommended for spintronic applications.
► An extraordinary enlargement in the coercivity (colossal compositional variation of the coercivity) is achieved.
► ɛ′ increases more than 9 times its room values for the sample with x= 0.05.