Ferroelectric and paramagnetic properties of Li2Gd4 (MoO4)7 single crystals

Thermal behavior of such fundamental physical properties as polarization, pyroelectric current, dielectric constant and paramagnetic susceptibility are reported for dilithium heptamolybdotetragadolinate, Li₂Gd₄ (MoO₄)₇. The ferroelectric transition point has been determined by various methods and the results compared. The most reliable value of the Curie point has been obtained by the measurement of differential magnetic susceptibility as a function of temperature and is found to be 52±2°C. The room temperature values for the relative dielectric constant and paramagnetic susceptibility are 51.5 and 59.8 x 10^-6 cm³. g^-1, respectively. From the susceptibility measurements the values obtained for the Curie constant, C, and the paramagnetic Curie point, θp, are 1.79 x 10^-2 cm³ . g^-1 . deg and 247°K, respectively. It is believed that Li₂Gd₄ (MoO₄)₇ could be antiferromagnetic between 273 and 325°K.