Magnetocapacitance effect in nonmultiferroic YFe03 single crystal

YFeO3 single crystal displays two relaxor-like dielectric relaxations, one at low temperature

(170300 K) and one at high temperature (370520 K), which are attributed to the activation of

electrons and oxygen vacancies, respectively. Above the temperature at which electrons are

activated, the sample displays a large magnetocapacitance effect. Comparison of the impedance

Cole-Cole plots measured with and without applied magnetic field reveals that the occurrence of

magnetocapacitance effect is accompanied with an increasing in DC conductivity under magnetic

field after the activation of electrons, which is explained by the enhancement of electron jumping

in Fe2þ-O-Fe3þ chains by magnetic field. Thus the magnetocapacitance effect in YFeO3 single

crystal can be explained by the combination of the Maxwell-Wagner space charge effect and/or

magnetoresistance effect, depending on the frequency range.