Reversal magnetization, spin reorientation and exchange bias in YCrO$_3$ doped with praseodymium

Abstract

Crystal structure, thermal and magnetic properties were systematically studied in the Y$_{1-x}$Pr$_x$CrO$_3$ with $0 \leq x \leq 0.3$ compositions. Magnetic susceptibility and specific heat measurements show an increase of the antiferromagnetic transition temperature ($T_N$) as Pr is substituted in the Y sites and notable magnetic features are observed below $T_N$. Strong coupling between magnetic and crystalline parameters is observed in a small range of Pr compositions. A small perturbation in the lattice parameters by Pr ion is sufficient to induce a spin reorientation transition followed by magnetization reversal, to finally induce exchange bias effect. The spin reorientation temperature ($T_{SR}$) is increased from 35 K to 149 K for $0.025 \leq x \leq 0.1$ compositions. It is found that the Cr spins sublattice rotates continuously from $T_{SR}$ to a new spin configuration a lower temperature. In addition, magnetization reversal is observed at $T^* \sim 35$ K for x= 0.05 up to $T^* \sim 63$ K for x = 0.20 composition. The $M-H$ curves show negative exchange bias effect induced by Pr ions, which are observed below of 100 K and being more intense at 5 K. At 10 K, the magnetic contribution of the specific heat, as well as the ZFC magnetization, show the rise of a peak with increasing Pr content. The magnetic anomaly could be associated with the freezing of the Pr magnetic moment randomly distributed at the 4c crystallographic site. A clear correspondence between spin reorientation, magnetization reversal and exchange bias anisotropy with the tilting and octahedral distortion is also discussed.