Ferroelectricity in Single Crystal InMnO3

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that single crystal InMnO3 is ferroelectric with a high degree of structural order and an electric polarization surpassing that of YMnO3, indicating its potential for device applications.

Contribution

First synthesis and characterization of ferroelectric single crystal InMnO3 with enhanced polarization compared to YMnO3.

Findings

InMnO3 is ferroelectric with space group P63cm.

Electric polarization is approximately 7.8 μC/cm^2.

InMnO3 shows significant R-O bond distortions.

Abstract

Single crystal synthesis, structure, electric polarization and heat capacity measurements on hexagonal InMnO3 show that this small R ion in the RMnO3 series is ferroelectric (space group P63cm). Structural analysis of this system reveals a high degree of order within the MnO5 polyhedra but significant distortions in the R-O bond distributions compared to the previously studied materials. Point-charge estimates of the electric polarization yield an electrical polarization of approximately 7.8 micro C/cm^2, 26% larger than the well-studied YMnO3 system. This system with enhanced room temperature polarization values may serve as a possible replacement for YMnO3 in device application.