Phase transition in multiferroic YMnO3 and its solid solution YMn(0.93)Fe(0.07)O3

Ceramics of YMnO₃ and its Fe substituted YMn_(0.93)Fe_(0.07)O₃ solid solution were synthesized by solid state reaction of the oxides at 1200 °C. Hexagonal phase was identified in both cases by X-ray powder diffraction. Rietveld refinement of cell parameters showed an increase of the parameter values for the solid solution. Dielectric permittivity measurements versus temperature showed a phase transition at 655 °C for yttrium manganite, however, for the solid solution no phase transition was detected on heating up to 700 °C. Dielectric loss measurements showed higher slope changes and better defined local maxima for the solid solution than for the pure phase.