Magnetocaloric effect and nature of magnetic transition in nanoscale Pr0.5Ca0.5MnO3

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetocaloric effect and magnetic transition nature in 10 nm Pr0.5Ca0.5MnO3 nanoparticles, revealing a field-dependent magnetic entropy change and broad phase transition due to competing magnetic interactions.

Contribution

It provides detailed analysis of the magnetocaloric properties and magnetic transition characteristics of nanoscale Pr0.5Ca0.5MnO3, highlighting the effects of size and phase competition.

Findings

Magnetic entropy change at 83.5 K is 0.57 J/kg K and field-dependent.

Refrigeration capacity at TC is 7.01 J/kg.

Magnetic phase transition is broad due to ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic competition.

Abstract

Systematic measurements pertinent to the magnetocaloric effect and nature of magnetic transition around the transition temperature are performed in the 10 nm Pr0.5Ca0.5MnO3 nanoparticles (PCMO10) . Maxwell relation is employed to estimate the change in magnetic entropy. At Curie temperature TC, 83.5 K, the change in magnetic entropy discloses a typical variation with a value 0.57 J/kg K, and is found to be magnetic field dependent. From the area under the curve Delta S vs T, the refrigeration capacity is calculated at TC, 83.5 K and it is found to be 7.01 J/kg. Arrott plots infer that due to the competition between the ferromagnetic and anti ferromagnetic interactions, the magnetic phase transition in PCMO10 is broadly spread over both in temperature as well as in magnetic field coordinates. Upon tuning the particle size, size distribution, morphology, and relative fraction of magnetic phases, it may be possible to enhance the magnetocalorific effect further in PCMO10.