Pyroelectric and dielectric properties of some heavy rare-earth orthochromites

The measurement of pyroelectric coefficient (p) and dielectric constant (K) of rare-earth orthochromites RCrO(3), where R = Tb, Dy, Ho, Er and Yb are reported for the temperature range 300-600 K. Pyroelectric data show that all the studied orthochromites have ferroelectric phase in this temperature range. The dielectric data in some cases support this conclusion. Spontaneous polarization (P-S) and Curie temperature (T-C) have also been evaluated. The maximum value of P-S varies from 0.041 C m(-2) to 0.30 C m(-2) in the studied orthochromites, which is very small.