Investigation on magnetic critical behavior related to its magnetocaloric effect in Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 spinel ferrite

In this work, we have explored the magnetic critical behavior of Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 spinel ferrite related to their magnetocaloric properties. The X-ray diffraction analysis shows the sample crystallizes in the cubic system with Fd3m space group. The magnetization versus temperature measurement shows that the sample exhibits a paramagnetic (PM)-to-ferromagnetic (FM) transition at Curie temperature, T-C similar to 345 K. Additionally, Arrott plots and Landau theory were also studied to assess magnetic phase ordering in the present compound, and such investigations indicate that the phase transition from the PM to FM states is of second order. The maximum magnetic entropy change, vertical bar Delta S-M(max)vertical bar similar to 1.1 Jkg(-1) K-1 and refrigeration capacity, RC similar to 116 Jkg(-1) were observed under the applied field of H = 25 kOe. Also, an excellent agreement has been found between the magnetic entropy change estimated by the Landau theory and those obtained using the classical Maxwell relation. The critical behavior of the Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 has been studied by means of modified Arrott plot, Kouvel-Fisher method, critical isotherm, and Widom scaling. The as-obtained critical exponents [beta = 0.51 and gamma = 1.11 for MAP, beta = 0.48 and gamma = 1.07 for KF] indicate that the critical behavior of the present compound is close to the mean-field model.

Automated summary

This study investigates the magnetic critical behavior of Mn0.5Zn0.5Fe2O4 spinel ferrite and reveals its paramagnetic-to-ferromagnetic transition to be of second order. The results also show that the compound exhibits significant magnetic entropy change and refrigeration capacity under an applied magnetic field. The obtained critical exponents suggest that the critical behavior of the compound is close to a mean-field model.