Abstract
In this study, the magnetic and the magnetocaloric properties of the La0.66Sr0.34MnO3 (LSMO) compound were investigated. The X-ray diffraction result indicates that the LSMO sample has a single phase of rhombohedral symmetry without any impurity phase. The magnetic study reveals that the specimen La0.66Sr0.34MnO3 exhibits a ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition at T (C) similar to 376 K. Using Arrott plots, the phase transition from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic is found to be of second order. A maximum magnetic entropy change of 1.25 J/kgK has been observed for a low applied magnetic field of 1T. The relative cooling power values exhibit a nearly linear dependence on the applied magnetic field. Moreover, the analysis of the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) using the Landau theory o f phase transitions shows good agreement with the experimental results, confirming the importance of magnetoelastic coupling and electron interactions in the magnetocaloric properties of perovskite manganites. This investigation suggests that La0.66Sr0.34MnO3 can be used as a potential magnetic refrigeration material.