Ferroelectricity in Single Crystal InMnO3

Single crystal synthesis, structure, electric polarization and heat capacity measurements on hexagonal InMnO3 show that this small R ion in the RMnO3 series is ferroelectric (space group P63cm). Structural analysis of this system reveals a high degree of order within the MnO5 polyhedra but significant distortions in the R-O bond distributions compared to the previously studied materials. Point-charge estimates of the electric polarization yield an electrical polarization of approximately 7.8 micro C/cm^2, 26% larger than the well-studied YMnO3 system. This system with enhanced room temperature polarization values may serve as a possible replacement for YMnO3 in device application.