Effect of potassium doping on the structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of La0.7Sr0.3−xKxMnO3 perovskite manganites

We investigate the effect of potassium doping on the structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of La_0.7Sr_0.3−xK_xMnO₃ (x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2) powder samples. Our polycrystalline compounds were synthesized using the solid-state reaction at high temperature. X-ray diffraction characterizations showed that all our studied samples crystallize in the distorted rhombohedral system with space group. With increasing potassium content, the unit cell volume exhibits a broad maximum around x = 0.15. Magnetization measurements versus temperature showed that all our samples exhibit a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition with decreasing temperature. The Curie temperature T_C is found to decrease from 365 K for x = 0 to 328 K for x = 0.2 as well as the saturated magnetization M_sp which shifts from 3.68 μ_B/Mn for x = 0 to 3.05 μ_B/Mn for x = 0.2. The critical exponent γ defined as M_sp (T) = M_sp(0)[1−(T/T_C)]^γ is found to remain almost constant and equal to 0.33 for all our samples. The maximum of magnetic entropy changes |ΔS_max| of La_0.7Sr_0.3−xK_xMnO₃ for x = 0.05 and 0.15 is found to be respectively, 1.37 and 1.2 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ under a magnetic field change of 1 T.     

Magnetic properties and large magnetocaloric effect in Gd-Ni amorphous ribbons for magnetic refrigeration applications in intermediate temperature range

Amorphous Gd_68−xNi_32+x (x = −3, 0, 3) ribbons were prepared by melt-spinning method. The crystallization onset temperatures T_x1 for Gd_68−xNi_32+x amorphous ribbons with x = −3, 0, and 3 are 561, 568, and 562 K, respectively. All the samples undergo the second-order magnetic transition at temperatures between ∼122 (x = −3 and 3) and 124 K (x = 0). The Curie temperature T_C does not change with the composition significantly. The maximum isothermal magnetic entropy changes (−ΔS_M)_max of Gd₇₁Ni₂₉, Gd₆₈Ni₃₂, and Gd₆₅Ni₃₅ amorphous ribbons for a magnetic field change of 0-5 T were 9.0, 8.0, and 6.9 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹, respectively. Large values of the refrigerant capacity (RC) were obtained in these ribbons. For example, Gd₇₁Ni₂₉ amorphous ribbon has a maximum RC value of 724 J kg⁻¹. Large magnetic entropy change and RC values together with high stability enable the Gd₇₁Ni₂₉ amorphous alloy a competitive candidate among the magnetic refrigeration materials working at temperatures near 120 K.     

Effect of high temperature sintering on the structural and the magnetic properties of La1.4Ca1.6Mn2O7

We investigate the effect of sintering temperature on the structural and magnetic properties of La_1.4Ca_1.6Mn₂O₇ double perovskite manganite compound prepared by the sol-gel route. Three sintering temperatures (1273, 1473 and 1673 K) are utilized for the heat treatment. Regardless of the sintering temperature, the tetragonal crystal structure with the I4/mmm space group is stable. However, a reduction in a and an increase in c lattice parameters along with a significant increase in crystallite-size occur on increasing the sintering temperature. This is also accompanied by the growth of grains. Grain-growth and changing crystallite-sizes account for the changes in magnetization, Curie temperature and magnetic entropy-change values. As the sintering temperature increases from 1273 to 1673 K the Curie temperature increases from 225 to 268 K and the magnetic entropy-change increases from 0.58 to 3.1 J kg⁻¹ K⁻¹ respectively.