Frustration of Exchange-Striction Ferroelectric Ordering and Growth of Electric Polarization of Phase Separation Domains in R$_{0.8}$Ce$_{0.2}$Mn$_2$O$_5$ (R = Er, Tb) Solid Solutions

B. Kh. Khannanov, E. I. Golovenchits, V. A. Sanina

Published 2020-04-15Version 1

The effect of rare-earth ions (R = Er$_3^+$, Tb$_3^+$, and Ce$_{3.75}^+$) on the dielectric properties and the electric polarization induced by local polar phase separation domains in solid solutions of R$_{0.8}$Ce$_{0.2}$Mn$_2$O$_5$ (R = Er, Tb) multiferroics has been studied. These parameters are found to qualitatively differ from those of initial RMn$_2$O$_5$ (R = Er, Tb) crystals studied before. It is shown that the properties of the polar phase separation domains that form in a subsystem of Mn3+ and Mn4+ ions due to a finite probability of tunneling electrons between these ions with different valences are substantially dependent on the values of crystal fields in which these domains exist. A combined influence of Er$_3^+$, Tb$_3^+$, and Ce$_{3.75}^+$ ions is found to substantially change the crystal field in R$_{0.8}$Ce$_{0.2}$ Mn$_2$O$_5$ (R = Er, Tb) as compared to RMn$_2$O$_5$ (R = Er, Tb).