Critical behavior and magnetocaloric effect in La0.7Ba0.25Nd0.05Mn1-xCuxO3

Abstract

In this work, the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of La0.7Ba0.25Nd0.05Mn1-xCuxO3 samples (x = 0 - 0.07) synthesized by the sol-gel method are presented. The compounds exhibited a second-order phase transition (SOPT) of ferromagnetic-paramagnetic (FM-PM) phase transition following Banerjee's criterion. Curie temperature TC decreased with increasing doping concentration. The critical behavior analysis using modified Arrott plots (MAP) showed a short-range FM ordering. Significant entropy change of samples was observed near the TC, which decreased with Cu content. The SOPT nature of compounds was confirmed by both the universal curves and scaling hypothesis.