Structure and magnetic properties of perovskite-like multiferroic PbFe0.5Nb0.5O3

PbFe0.5Nb0.5O3 compound (PFN) is a well-known multiferroic material undergoing a paraelectric(PE)-to-ferroelectric(FE) phase transition at ~ 380 K. The cubic structure in the PE state is distorted in the FE state to the tetragonal (below 376 K), and subsequently to the monoclinic structure. Inspecting magnetism, two diffuse magnetic phase transitions were reported at TN = 150 K and Tm = 10 K. In our work, we have investigated samples derived from the PFN, prepared by different methods. The crystal structure, grain size and phase composition of the materials was determined by powder XRD and SEM analysis. Study of magnetization and a.c. susceptibility confirmed presence of the two anomalies of magnetic origin at 150 K and 10 K, respectively, in most of the samples.