Impact of polymeric precursor and auto-combustion on the structural, microstructural, magnetic, and magnetocaloric properties of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3

Abstract

In this work, La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 (LSMO) nanopowders are synthesized using two different methods: Pechini (LSMO-PC) and auto-combustion (LSMO-AC). Nanoparticle sizes, structural, magnetic, and magnetocaloric properties were determined and compared. The X-ray diffraction confirms the coexistence of two phases; rhombohedral symmetry with space group R-3c and orthorhombic symmetry with space group Pbnm. The rhombohedral phase is dominant. The scanning electron microscope images show that LSMO-PC has larger nanoparticle sizes (∼495 nm) than LSMO-AC (∼195 nm). The samples exhibit ferromagnetic properties with distinct hysteresis loops and Curie temperatures of 340 K and 290 K for LSMO-PC and LSMO-AC, respectively. The variation of the magnetic entropy was measured indirectly using the Maxwell approach with increasing magnetic field. For LSMO-PC it reaches a maximum -ΔSM = 1.69 J/kg.K at 340 K and ΔH = 5 T. The associated adiabatic temperature change ΔTM is 1.04 K. While LSMO-PC demonstrates superior magnetic and magnetocaloric properties, LSMO-AC displays significant magnetocaloric thermal stability. The obtained values make LSMO-PC and LSMO-AC promising candidates for eco-friendly room-temperature magnetocaloric applications.