Abstract
The influence of the synthesis method on structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the La0.5Ca0.5Mn0.95V0.05O3 compound has been investigated. The compound was prepared by glycine nitrate process (GNP) and compared to counterparts obtained with solid-state route (S-S) and ball milling (B-M). The structural analysis shows a pure and single-orthorhombic crystalline phase for the GNP compound. A secondary phase LaVO4 was detected for S-S and B-M samples. From magnetization versus temperature analysis, different magnetic behaviors were distinguished when moving from one technique to another. The nature of transition was determined and a crossover from second order to first-order magnetic transition was observed with the decrease of crystallite size. Landau theory was performed to confirm the order of magnetic transition of the sample consistent with the Banerjee criterion. The magnetic entropy change (Delta S-m) and the relative cooling power RCP, which decreased by reducing the particle size, were calculated.