Eur. Phys. J. Plus (2015) 130: 177
https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/i2015-15177-2

Regular Article

Effect of iron substitution on the physico-chemical properties of Pr_0.6La_0.1Ba_0.3Mn_1−xFe_xO₃ manganites (with 0 ≤ x ≤0.3

¹ Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, University of Sfax, B. P. 1171 - 3000, Sfax, Tunisia
² Laboratory of Chemical of Coordination (LCC) of CNRS, University Paul Sabatier, BP 44099, F-31077, Toulouse, Cedex 4, France
³ University of Sfax, National Engineering School of Sfax, B. P. W - 3038, Sfax, Tunisia

^* e-mail: zouari_sana85@yahoo.fr

Received: 5 June 2015
Accepted: 29 July 2015
Published online: 28 August 2015

Abstract

We report in this paper the physico-chemical properties of Pr_0.6La_0.1Ba_0.3Mn_1−x Fe _x O₃ (with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3 compounds. Our manganites were prepared using the sol-gel method. Structural studies showed that our compounds are single-phase ones and they crystallize in the orthorhombic system with the Pnma space group. The substitution of Mn by Fe induces a ferromagnetic phase at low temperatures. From isothermal magnetization versus magnetic applied field we deduced the magnetic entropy change. The maximum value |ΔS _M ^Max | of our parent compound reached 1.43 J/kg · K and 2.92 J/kg · K under magnetic field of 2 and 5T, respectively. Our results suggest that these materials may be suitable candidates in magnetic refrigeration at low temperature.