Thermodynamic properties and phase transitions of microcrystalline and nanostructured SmFeO$_{3}$ ceramics

The heat capacity and dielectric properties of microcrystalline and nanostructured SmFeO$_{3}$ ceramics obtained by solid phase synthesis are studied. The ceramics is synthesized by the treatment of the batch at room temperature in Bridgman anvils by forceful action combined with shear deformation followed by sintering. It is established that the mechanoactivation results in noticeable broadening antiferromagnetic–ferroelectric transition and shifting the temperature of phase transition in the low-temperature area. The phase transition having typical for relaxation oscillator frequency dependent character is found at 558 K. It is shown that the defect structure can take a dominant place in the formation of the physical properties of ceramics.