Synthesis and structure of perovskite ScMnO₃

The rare-earth manganites RMnO₃ (R = rare earth) are a class of important multiferroics with stable hexagonal structures for small R ion radius (Sc, Lu, Yb,⋯). Metastable perovskite phases of these systems possess intriguing electronically driven electrical polarization, but the synthesis of the perovskite phase for the end member ScMnO₃ system has proven to be elusive. We report the structure of a new monoclinic P2₁/n perovskite phase of ScMnO₃ synthesized from the hexagonal phase under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions. This extends the small ion region for so-called E-phase electronically driven ferroelectric manganese perovsites.