Determination of the magnetocaloric entropy change in the presence of phase separation and metastability: The case of Eu0.58Sr0.42MnO3

• Published in: Journal of magnetism and magnetic materials Vol. 363; pp. 145 - 151
• Main Authors: Guillou, F., Hardy, V., Fruchart, D., Zawilski, B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.08.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Magnetic phase transition; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetic refrigeration; Magnetically ordered materials: other intrinsic properties; Magnetocaloric effect; Magnetocaloric effect, magnetic cooling; Magnetotransport phenomena, materials for magnetotransport; Manganite; Manganites; Physics; Magnetic refrigeration; Manganite; Magnetocaloric effect; Magnetic phase transition; Magnetic refrigerators; Magnetocaloric effects; Metastable phases; Phase separation; Magnetic transitions; Manganites
• ISSN: 0304-8853; 1873-4766
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jmmm.2014.03.073

The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in the manganite Eu0.58Sr0.42MnO3 was derived by different methods, in a field range very sensitive to the phenomenon of phase separation. It turns out that a strong scatter in the MCE features was observed. When the applied field is less than the field required to complete the transition, it is found that the MCE can be strongly overestimated by “standard” indirect measurements. A way to properly estimate the MCE around a first order transition in the presence of phase separation and metastability is proposed. •The entropy change was investigated in an oxide with pronounced metastable effects.•A strong scatter is observed among results derived from several indirect methods.•It is found that even the calorimetric approach can be proned to artefacts.•A method is proposed to evaluate a “real” magnetocaloric entropy change.