Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of La0.7Ca0.3-xBaxMnO3 compounds

Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in La0.7Ca0.3-xBaxMnO3 (x = 0.12, 0.24, 0.3) compounds were investigated. It is shown that there is a large magnetic entropy change associated with the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition. The Curie temperature (T-C) increases with the barium addition, while the maximum entropy change (\DeltaS(M)(max)\) slightly decreases. La0.7Ca0.18Ba0.12MnO3 exhibits the largest \DeltaS(M)(max)\ value of 1.85 J/kg/K at 298 K among the compounds investigated Lip to 10kOe applied field. Through these results, La0.7Ca0.3-xBaxMnO3 materials are strongly suggested for the use of active refrigerants for magnetic refrigeration technology near and above room temperature. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.