Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2014) 129: 83
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2014-14083-5

Regular Article

Structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ manganite oxide prepared by the ball milling method

¹ Faculty of Sciences, Sfax University, 3000, Sfax, Tunisia
² Institut Néel, CNRS et Université Joseph Fourrier, F -38042, Grenoble Cedex 9, France
³ National School of Engineers, LASEM, Sfax University, Sfax, Tunisia

^* e-mail: cherifrim18@yahoo.fr

Received: 6 January 2014
Revised: 4 March 2014
Accepted: 8 April 2014
Published online: 19 May 2014

Abstract

Structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ sample have been investigated. Powder sample has been elaborated by the ball milling method. The Rietveld analysis of the powder X-ray diffraction shows that the sample crystallizes in the orthorhombic structure with Pnma space group. Magnetic measurements showed that the sample exhibits a ferromagnetic-to-paramagnetic transition at a Curie temperature close to 370 K. The magnetic entropy change () has been deduced by the Maxwell relation method. The maximum value of the magnetic entropy change is found to be 1.1 J/kgK for an applied magnetic field of 2T. At this value of magnetic field the relative cooling power (RCP) is 49 J/kg. At high temperature, large change in magnetic entropy has been observed in the sample. Our result on magnetocaloric properties suggests that La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ nanopowder is attractive as a possible refrigerant for high temperature magnetic refrigeration.