Enhancement of magnetocaloric properties in (1-x) La0.7Ca0.2Sr0.1MnO3/xLa0.7Ca0.15Sr0.15MnO3 composite system (0 ≤ x ≤ 1)

The present work reveals an especial agreement between the experimental results and the continuous curves investigated by the numerical calculations in (1 - x)La0.7Ca0.2Sr0.1MnO3/xLa(0.7)Ca(0.15)Sr(0.15)MnO(3) composite system. Moreover, the ability to adjust the magnetic entropy change in a large temperature range is revealed to be possible by the mixture of both individual phases La0.7Ca0.2Sr0.1MnO3 and La0.7Ca0.15Sr0.15MnO3. Our samples have been synthesised using the solid state method. Rietveld refinements of the X-ray diffraction patterns show that both samples are single phase. The Curie temperature T-C is found to be 308 K and 338 K for La0.7Ca0.2Sr0.1MnO3 and La0.7Ca0.15Sr0.15MnO3 respectively. Moreover, the magnetic entropy change and the Relative Cooling Power (RCP) values were estimated. We have shown that the optimum magnetocaloric effect at mu H-0 = 2T has been found for the composition with x=0.45, which exhibits a table-like Delta S curve with a peak value slightly lowered and strongly expanded when comparing with the parent compounds. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.