Enhanced ferroelectricity in orthorhombic manganites Gd1−xHoxMnO3

A series of orthorhombic manganites Gd(1-x)Ho(x)MnO(3) (0 <= x <= 0.5) are synthesized. The Ho doping leads to a transition of paraelectric phase into ferroelectric one, making Gd(1-x)Ho(x)MnO(3) multiferroic. It is argued that the enhanced electric polarization originates from the transition of the A-type Mn(3+) anti-ferromagnetic state into the spiral spin order driven by the reduction of Mn-O-Mn bond angle due to the doping. The noncollinear spin order of the A-site Ho(3+) spins at high doping level may also make contribution to the polarization. (c) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3535543]