High-entropy approach to engineering the magnetoelectric and magnetocaloric properties of manganites

High-entropy materials have attracted considerable attention in recent years owing to their unique structural characteristics, tailorable chemical composition, and tunable functional properties. In this study, the concept of entropy-mediated phase stabilization was combined with strongly correlated electron systems to achieve directional property control in single-phase manganites. As Ca and Cr are sequentially doped into (Pr0.25La0.25Nd0.25Sm0.25)MnO3 at specific contents, the original weak ferromagnetic (FM) state with a spin-canted antiferromagnetic (AFM) background transforms into the charge-ordered AFM state, and then further transitions to the intense FM-AFM competition state. Magnetic state evolution also causes significant changes in electrical properties, highlighting the complex magnetoelectronic phase diagram of this system. Under specific doping conditions, the system exhibits a temperature-induced metamagnetic transition and a significant magnetocaloric effect, demonstrating interesting properties brought about by magnetic phase transitions. The complex magnetoelectric behavior induced by the coexistence and competition of multiple interactions is discussed by combining microstructural characterization with a magnetic theory framework. This study explores a method for effectively manipulating the physical properties of manganites based on the high-entropy concept, which is conducive to the development of new functional materials with kaleidoscopic characteristics. (sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic),(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)Ca(sic)Cr(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(Pr0.25La0.25Nd0.25Sm0.25)MnO3(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic).(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic), (sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)(sic)..