A comprehensive review on the ferroelectric orthochromates: Synthesis, property, and application

TL;DR

This comprehensive review analyzes the synthesis, properties, and applications of ferroelectric orthochromates, especially YCrO3, highlighting their multiferroic potential, synthesis methods, physical behaviors, and future research directions.

Contribution

It provides an extensive synthesis of scientific and patent literature from 1954 to 2022 on RECrO3 compounds, clarifying controversies and summarizing their properties and applications.

Findings

YCrO3 exhibits multiferroic properties with potential applications.

Various synthesis methods impact the structural and physical properties.

Existing controversies about ferroelectricity and magnetism in RECrO3 are discussed.

Abstract

Multiferroics represent a class of advanced materials for promising applications and stand at the forefront of modern science for the special feature possessing both charge polar and magnetic order. Previous studies indicate that the family of RECrO3 (RE = rare earth) compounds is likely another rare candidate system holding both ferroelectricity and magnetism. However, many issues remain unsolved, casting hot disputes about whether RECrO3 is multiferroic or not. For example, an incompatibility exists between reported structural models and observed ferroelectric behaviors, and it is not easy to determine the spin canting degree. To address these questions, one key step is to grow single crystals because they can provide more reliable information than other forms of matter do. In this review, the parent and doped ferroelectric YCrO3 compounds are comprehensively reviewed based on scientific and patent literatures from 1954 to 2022. The materials syntheses with different methods, including poly-, nano-, and single-crystalline samples and thin films, are summarized. The structural, magnetic, ferroelectric and dielectric, optical, and chemical-pressure (on Y and Cr sites by doping) dependent chemical and physical properties and the corresponding phase diagrams, are discussed. Diverse (potential) applications, including anti-corrosion, magnetohydrodynamic electrode, catalyst, negative-temperature-coefficient thermistor, magnetic refrigeration, protective coating, and solid oxide fuel cell, are present. To conclude, we summarize general results, reached consensuses, and existing controversies of the past nearly 69 years of intensive studies and highlight future research opportunities and emerging challenges to address existing issues.