Structural correlation to ferroelectric order, non-Griffiths like phase and magnetocaloric effect in YbCrO 4 .

We report a ferroelectric order around ∼99 K ( T FE ), which is considerably above the long range ferrimagnetic order at 25 K ( T N ). The value of saturation electric polarization is considerable as ∼570 μ C m -2 for a poling field of 5 kV cm -1 . The ferroelectric order is associated with a significant magnetoelectric coupling below ∼90 K. A weak signature of T FE is observed in the dielectric constant, which is associated with a linear magnetodielectric response at 18 K(<TN). A transition to a polar structure has been correlated with the occurrence of ferroelectric order. A non-Griffiths like phase is observed around ∼48 K, which is also linked with the structural distortion. A reasonable value of the magnetic entropy change of 5.07 J Kg -1  K -1 is noted at T N for a change in field of 50 kOe, which involves a strong magnetoelastic coupling. The results indicate considerable structural instabilities, which is linked with the observed multifunctional properties of YbCrO 4 .