Correlation between structural, electrical and magnetic properties of GdMnO3 bulk ceramics

This paper reports the effect of sintering temperature on ferroelectric properties of GdMnO3 (GMO) bulk ceramics at room temperature prepared by the conventional solid state reaction route following slow step sintering schedule. Ferroelectric hysteresis loop as well as sharp dielectric anomaly in pure (99.999%) GMO sintered ceramics has been clearly observed. Samples sintered at 1350°C become orthorhombic with Pbnm space group and showed frequency independent sharp dielectric anomalies at 373K and a square type of novel ferroelectric hysteresis loop was observed at room temperature. Interestingly, dielectric anomalies and ferroelectric behavior were observed to be dependent upon sintering temperature of GdMnO3. Room temperature dielectric constant (εr) value at different frequencies is observed to be abnormally high. The magnetic field and temperature dependent magnetization show antiferromagnetic behavior at 40K for both 1350°C and 1700°C sintered GMO. Present findings showed the possibility of application of GdMnO3 at room temperature as multifunctional materials. • Preparation of single-phasic polycrystalline GdMnO3 sample by the solid state sintering route.• Observation of square type P–E hysteresis loop with higher saturation and remnant polarization.• Observation of antiferromagnetic behavior at 40K in polycrystalline GdMnO3.• Possibility of room temperature application of GdMnO3 as multifunctional material.