Behavior of the magnetocaloric effect in La0.7Ba0.2Ca0.1Mn1-xSnxO3 manganite oxides as promising candidates for magnetic refrigeration

The magnetocaloric effect along with magnetic phase transition in the peroveskite polycrystalline samples La_0.7Ba_0.2Ca_0.1Mn_1-xSn_xO₃ (x = 0 and 0.1) was investigated. The samples were synthesized using conventional solid state reaction at 1400 °C temperature. Magnetization vs. temperature measurements, under a magnetic field of μ₀H = 0.05 T, showed a paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition at Curie temperature, T_C, which decreases from 310 K for x = 0-290 K for x = 0.1. A large magnetic entropy change | ΔS_M | deduced from isothermal magnetization curves, has been observed in our samples with a peak centered on their respective T_C. Interesting values of the relative cooling power (RCP), 237 J kg^-1 for x = 0 and 248 J kg^-1 x = 0.1, make these samples promising candidates for magnetic refrigeration around room temperature.