Eur. Phys. J. B 75, 231-236 (2010)
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjb/e2010-00154-x

Structure, charge ordering and physical properties of Yb₂Fe₃O₇

Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, P.R. China

Corresponding author: hxyang@aphy.iphy.ac.cn

Received: 5 January 2010
Revised: 27 April 2010
Published online: 19 May 2010

Abstract

The structural and physical properties of the layered Yb₂Fe₃O₇ have been extensively investigated. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations at room temperature reveal the presence of diffuse zigzag-type streaks at 1/3(h h l) running along the c* axis direction, suggesting the presence of a charge ordered state with a shorter coherence length in comparison with that in Lu₂Fe₃O₇. The measurements of magnetization demonstrate that the replacement of Lu³⁺ by the magnetic Yb³⁺ ion in this layered system could result in visible effects on the low-temperature magnetic properties: the ferrimagnetic phase transition temperature decreases and an additional magnetic anomaly possibly attributed to antiferromagnetic coupling between Yb and Fe layers appears at around 50 K. Analysis of the dielectric properties shows that the Yb₂Fe₃O₇ material in general has a large dielectric constant of about 5000 at room temperature, and a broader relaxation time distribution in comparison with ErFe₂O₄.