Effect of Metal-Oxide Phase on the Magnetic and Magnetocaloric Properties of La0.7Ca0.3MnO3-MO (MO=CuO, CoO, and NiO) Composite

The study reports the synthesis and characterization of the magnetic and magnetocaloric effects of metal-oxide (MO) modified La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 perovskites manganite. The powder composite samples, with a nominal composition of (1 − x)La0.7Ca0.3MnO3-xMO (Wt.% x = 0.0, 2.5, 5.0), were prepared using the facile autocombustion method, followed by an annealing process. The phase purity and structure were confirmed by X-ray diffraction. Temperature and field-dependent magnetization measurements and Arrott analysis revealed mixed first- and second-order phase transition (ferromagnetic to paramagnetic) in composite samples. The phase transition temperature shifted to lower temperatures with the addition of MO in the composite. A large magnetic entropy change (4.75 JKg−1K−1 at 1T and 8.77 JKg−1K−1 at 5T) was observed in the La0.7Ca0.3MnO3 (LCMO) sample and was suppressed, due to the presence of the MO phase in the composite samples. On the other hand, the addition of MO as a secondary phase in the LCMO samples enhanced their relative cooling power (RCP). The RCP of all composite samples increased with respect to the pristine LCMO, except for LCMO–5%NiO. The highest RCP value of 267 JKg−1 was observed in LCMO–5%CuO samples, which was 23.4% higher than the 213 JKg−1 observed for the pure LCMO at a magnetic field of 5T. The enhanced RCP of these composites makes them attractive for potential refrigeration applications.