Synthesis and magnetocaloric effect of (La0.47Gd0.2)Sr0.33MnO3 polycrystalline nanoparticles

We have reported here a new route to synthesize nanosized (La0.47Gd0.2)Sr0.33MnO3 perovskite-type oxides at relatively low calcinated temperature of 600 and 800 °C using amorphous molecular alloy as precursor. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and electron diffraction (ED) revealed that the resulting products are of pure single-phase rhombohedral structure. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation found that the particle-sizes are about 40-50 and 80-100 nm, respectively. The Curie temperature Tc and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of (La0.47Gd0.2)Sr0.33MnO3 nanoparticles have been studied. A relatively large magnetocaloric effect (MCE) with a broad peak around Curie temperature (285.9 K) is observed in (La0.47Gd0.2)Sr0.33MnO3 polycrystalline nanoparticles calcinated at 800 °C for 10 h. These results suggest that the material may be a suitable candidate as working substance in magnetic refrigeration near room temperature.