Magnetic and dielectric properties of orthoferrites La1-x PrxFeO3 (x=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5)

The Pr doped LaFeO3 are synthesized by the sol-gel citrate method. The crystal structure of the samples can be described by the Pbnm space group. The Raman spectra of the materials show that the vibrational modes are heavily influenced by the magnitude of the orthorhombic distortion. The antiferromagnetic nature of the samples is examined by temperature dependent magnetisation measurements and the corresponding hysteresis loop. A signature of weak ferromagnetic phase is observed in the samples at low temperature due to the canting of the iron sublattices. The frequency dependent dielectric relaxation of the sample has been investigated in the temperature range from 303 K to 513 K in the framework of conductivity and electric modulus formalisms. The complex impedance plots are explained by an electrical equivalent circuit consisting of constant phase element and resistance. A significant change of the conductivity is observed with the increase of Pr concentration. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.