Exchange bias in a mixed metal oxide based magnetocaloric compound YFe0.5Cr0.5O3

TL;DR

This study explores the magnetic properties, magnetocaloric effects, and exchange bias phenomena in the mixed metal oxide YFe0.5Cr0.5O3, revealing complex magnetic states and effects relevant for magnetic cooling applications.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of exchange bias and magnetocaloric effects in YFe0.5Cr0.5O3, highlighting the coexistence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic interactions in a perovskite.

Findings

Inverse magnetocaloric effect observed below 260 K

Magnetic entropy change follows a power law with magnetic field

Exchange bias varies with temperature and magnetic field cycling

Abstract

We report a detailed investigation of magnetization, magnetocaloric effect and exchange bias studies on a mixed metal oxide YFe0.5Cr0.5O3 belonging to perovskite family. Our results reveal that the compound is in canted magnetic state (CMS) where ferromagnetic correlations are present in an antiferromagnetic state. Magnetic entropy change of this compound follows a power law (deltaS_M ~ H^m) dependence of magnetic field. In this compound, inverse magnetocaloric effect (IMCE) is observed below 260 K while conventional magnetocaloric effect (CMCE) above it. The exponent m is found to be independent of temperature and field only in the IMCE region. Investigation of temperature and magnetic field dependence studies of exchange bias, reveal a competition between effective Zeeman energy of the ferromagnetic regions and anisotropic exchange energy at the interface between ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic regions. Variation of exchange bias due to temperature and field cycling is also investigated.