Observation of magnetoelectric coupling in glassy epitaxial PbFe0.5Nb0.5O3 thin films

The temperature evolution of the dielectric spectra in PbFe0.5Nb0.5O3 (PFN) thin films showed a kink near the Neel temperature (similar to 170 K), diffuse phase transition (327-380 K) with frequency dispersion at dielectric maxima temperature, and almost frequency independent maxima at 600 K, suggesting weak magnetoelectric coupling, relaxor behavior, and structural phase transition, respectively. Dielectric properties and magnetic hysteresis revealed the coexistence of relaxor ferroelectricity and weak ferromagnetism at room temperature in PFN films. The magnetization as a function of temperature revealed a cusp in the zero field cooled curve for low magnetic field (similar to 100 Oe) near 170 K, suggesting spin glasslike behavior.