Synthesis, structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 nanoparticles

In this work, we reported a detailed study on the synthesis, structural and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline La0.8Sr0.2MnO3. The synthesized nanoparticles were prepared using a sol-gel method and characterized using X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscope. The average particle size was found in the range from 40 to 45 nm. The magnetization versus temperature M(7) measurements as well as magnetization field dependence M(H) have been investigated using vibrating-sample magnetometer. The magnetization as a function of temperature M(7) indicated a broad second-order magnetic phase transition from ferromagnetic state to paramagnetic state in the Curie temperature region (320-340 K). The magnetocaloric effect of the sample has been estimated and presented a maximum magnetic entropy change vertical bar Delta S-M vertical bar(max) = 0.86 J kg(-1) K-1 with relative cooling power = 62.12 J kg(-1) at magnetic field (H) = 2T. Based on the result of magnetocaloric properties, the investigated sample could be considered as a good refrigerant material for near room temperature magnetic refrigeration.