Magnetocaloric effect in La0.8−xNdxNa0.2MnO3

Single-phase polycrystalline samples of La0.8−xNdxNa0.2MnO3 (x=0.00,0.05,0.10,0.15 and 0.20) were prepared by the sol-gel method. Investigations of Curie temperature and magnetic entropy change were carried out in the temperature range 240-340 K and magnetic field range 0-1 T. It was found that the Curie temperature TC decreases with increasing x, and that the maximum magnetic entropy change ΔSM, for x=0.20, is 0.3692 J/mol K near the temperature 295 K. The results suggested that these perovskite manganites have some appropriate properties for a good candidate as magnetic refrigeration in the room temperature range.