Study of Exchange Bias in Mn-Doped YFeO3 Compound

Single-phase samples of orthorhombic YFe1-x Mn (x) O-3 (x = 0 to 0.3) were prepared using solid-state route. Temperature variation of magnetization measurements show antiferromagnetic transition with N,el temperature (T (N)) in the range of 646 K for x = 0 to 456 K for x = 0.3. Spin canting-induced weak ferromagnetism is observed for T < T (N). These materials exhibit an exchange bias behavior as per magnetic hysteresis loop measurement under field-cooled condition. The magnitude of maximum exchange bias field at 413 K is around 1.2 kOe. The observed exchange bias is explained by considering the exchange coupling across the interface of two magnetic phases having a dominant collinear antiferromagnetism and a weak ferromagnetism, respectively.