Structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of vanadium-doped manganites La0.65Ca0.35Mn1-xVxO3 ( 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5)

Structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of polycrystalline La0.65Ca0.35Mn1-xVxO3 have been investigated. Our samples were prepared using the solid state reaction method at high temperatures. X-ray diffraction analysis show that all samples crystallized in the orthorhombic structure with Pbnm space group with presence of LaVO4 as secondary phase. The SEM micrographs reveal micrometric grains with bimodal size distribution. Magnetic Measurements indicate that our samples exhibit a PM-FM transition, with a Curie temperature (TC) decreasing from 262 K for x = 0 to 208 K for x = 0.5; in addition to the presence of the Griffiths phase in the paramagnetic region. Using the isothermal magnetization versus magnetic applied field, we have deduced that the occured magnetic transition is of second order. Moreover, we have calculated the magnetic entropy change, which reaches 5.25 J/kg K for La0.65Ca0.35Mn0.5V0.5O3 compound under 5T. This value is associated to a relative cooling power (RCP) of 207 J/kg. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier B.V.