Magnetocaloric effect in the La0.62Bi0.05Ca0.33MnO3 compound

Bi-doped lanthanum manganite with chemical composition of La0.62Bi0.05Ca0.33MnO3 has been prepared by the standard solid-state process. The effect of Bi doping on the sintering temperature, the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties has been investigated. Bi2O3 was found to be an effective sintering aid for La0.67Ca0.33MnO3 . It was found that small amounts of Bi doping (x=0.05) can lower the sintering temperature about 200 °C. Bi-doped samples also exhibited a large magnetic entropy change, |ΔSm|=3.5 J/kg K under 1 T field at the Curie temperature.