Magnetocaloric effect in composite structures based on ferromagnetic–ferroelectric Pr0.6Sr0.4MnO3/BaTiO3 perovskites

We have prepared composite materials composed of ferromagnetic and ferroelectric compounds having the general formula (1 − x)(Pr0.6Sr0.4MnO3)/x(BaTiO3), with x is the molar ratio (x = 0.0, 0.03, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.30) using conventional ceramic double sintering process. We report the structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of all samples. The presence of the two phases of Pr0.6Sr0.4MnO3 (PSMO) and BaTiO3 (BTO) was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique and the structural analysis. Magnetic measurements of magnetization versus temperature and magnetic applied field were performed. The temperature dependence of magnetization reveals that the composite samples show paramagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition (PM–FM) when the temperature decreases. These samples have the same Curie temperature as the parent PSMO compound (Tc ≈ 273 K). The magnetic entropy change |ΔSM| was deduced from the M(H) data by the Maxwell relation. Close to Tc, a large change in magnetic entropy has been observed in all samples. The maximum value of the magnetic entropy |ΔSMmax| decreases from 2.88 J kg−1 K−1 for x = 0–1.86 J kg−1 K−1 for x = 0.3 for an applied magnetic field of 2 T. At this value of magnetic field the relative cooling power (RCP) decreases equally from 63 J kg−1 for the parent sample to 38.3 J kg−1 for x = 0.3. The temperature dependence of the Landau coefficients has been deduced using the Landau expansion of the magnetic free energy, indicating the second order nature of the magnetic transition.

► Study of magnetocaloric effect on magnetoelectric composites Pr0.6Sr0.4MnO3/BaTiO3.
► Maximum magnetic entropy and RCP values are not affected for the low BTO content.
► A typical second order magnetic transition near Tc.
► The calculated magnetic entropy shows a good agreement with experiment results.