IMF2017

It was possible to synthesize the perovskite compound YFe_xCr_1-xO₃ by the combustion method using urea and glycine. The spongy and laminated appearance of the ocher colored material was characterized by X-ray diffraction indicating crystallization of the samples in a perovskite structure with orthorhombic deformation. Additionally the samples were studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy at 300 K and 4.2 K. All of them presented magnetic ordering at 4.2K with very narrow line widths. The value of the hyperfine field continuously decreased from the pure sample of YFeO₃ to YFe_0.25Cr_0.75O₃. At 300 K the samples of YFeO₃ and YFe_0.75Cr_0.25O₃ present a magnetic hyperfine splitting, but the samples with YFe_0.50Cr_0.50O₃ and YFe_0.25Cr_0.75O₃ show only an electric quadrupole splitting indicating superparamagnetism or the absence of magnetic order. We also report the result of first principle calculations of the electronic structure of YFeO₃ and YCrO₃.