Abstract
The magnetocaloric effect along magnetic phase transition and critical exponent in mixed manganite La0.6Nd0.1(CaSr)(0.3)Mn0.9O3 was investigated by dc magnetization measurements. Magnetic data indicate that the compound exhibit a continuous (second-order) paramagnetic (PM) to ferromagnetic (FM) phase transition. From the derived values of the critical exponents (beta=0.385(1) and gamma=1.481(3)), we conclude that La0.6Nd0.1(CaSr)(0.3)Mn0.9V0.1O3 belongs to the three-dimensional Heisenberg class with short-range interaction. The maximum magnetic entropy (-Delta S-M) and the relative cooling power (RCP) were found to be respectively, 4.266 J/kg K and 205.35 J/kg for a 5 T field change, making of this material a promising candidate for magnetic refrigeration near room temperature. From the field dependence of RCP and Delta S-M, it was possible to evaluate the critical exponents of the magnetic phase transitions. Their values are in good agreement with those obtained from the critical exponents using a modified Arrott method. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.