Enhanced RCP and large inverse magnetocaloric effect of CoFe2_2O4_4 nanoparticles synthesized by auto-combustion method

This work focuses on the microstructure, magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect of CoFe$_2$O$_4$ (CFO) nanoparticles elaborated by sol-gel auto combustion method. The XRD investigation indicates that CFO is crystallized in a cubic spinel structure and the SEM micrograph shows a fine quasi-spherical with an average grain sizes of 160 nm. The temperature dependence of the Raman spectra reveals the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic (FM-PM) transition started from 723 K and the magnetization versus temperature measurements shows the Curie temperature located at T$_{\rm C}$ = 785 K. Large value of magnetocaloric temperature change of $\Delta$T =11.2 K with a high RCP of 687.56 J Kg$^{-1}$ are achieved indirectly via the Maxwell approach making our CFO nanopowder suitable candidate for both environmentally friendly magnetic refrigeration and medical applications at ambient temperature

Proprietes electroniques des semi-conducteurs moleculaires derives radicalaires des phtalocyanines

SIGLEAvailable from INIST (FR), Document Supply Service, under shelf-number : T 83803 / INIST-CNRS - Institut de l'Information Scientifique et TechniqueFRFranc

Effect of MCl (M = Na, K) addition on microstructure and electrical conductivity of forsterite

Forsterite single phase powder Mg2SiO4 was synthesized by sol–gel method alongside with heat treatment, using two different cation alkaline salts MCl as mineralizers (M = Na, K) with various mass percentages (2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 wt.%). In this work, we report on the effect of the cation type and the added amount of used mineralizer on microstructure and electrical conductivity of Mg2SiO4. The formation of forsterite started at 680–740  °C and at 630–700  °C with KCl and NaCl respectively, as shown by TG-DTA and confirmed by XRD. Furthermore, the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) transmission spectra indicated bands corresponding to vibrations of forsterite structure. The morphology and elemental composition of sintered ceramics were examined by SEM-EDX analyses, while their densities, which were measured by Archimedes method, increased with addition of both alkaline salts. The electrical measurements were performed by Complex Impedance Spectroscopy. The results showed that electrical conductivity increased with the addition of both mineralizers, which was higher for samples prepared with NaCl than those prepared with KCl

Evaluation of electrical conductivity of Fe-doped forsterite ceramics synthetized by sol–gel method

This work aims to investigate the effect of sintering temperature and iron doping on the electrical conductivity of forsterite in the temperature range of 300–400 °C. For this purpose, olivine compositions (Mg2-xFexSiO4; x = 0, 0.05 and 0.1) were synthetized by sol-gel process and then characterized by different techniques. The obtained results indicate the successful formation of dense single phase olivine ceramics. It was also found that Fe inserted in forsterite lattice has both Fe (II) and Fe (III) oxidation states. Regarding the electrical conductivity, it turned out to be more sensitive to both investigation parameters, in contrast with the activation energy characterizing the diffusion of carriers charge responsible of electrical conductivity. The prepared samples were characterized by: XRD, SEM techniques and Raman, Mössbauer and impedance spectroscopies

Impact of Polymeric precursor and Auto-combustion on the Structural, Microstructural, Magnetic, and Magnetocaloric Properties of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3

International audienceIn 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, with the rhombohedral phase dominating. 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 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

Enhanced electrical properties and large electrocaloric effect in lead-free Ba0.8Ca0.2ZrxTi1−xO3 (x = 0 and 0.02) ceramics

The effects of 2% Zr introduction in Ba0.8Ca0.2TiO3 (BCT) system on its electrical and electrocaloric properties was investigated. BCT and Ba0.8Ca0.2Zr0.02Ti0.98O3 (BCZT) ceramics synthesized by solid-state processing were crystallized in a pure perovskite phase with a group space P4mm. After Zr insertion, the enhanced dielectric constant was obtained around the Curie temperature (Tc) in BCZT ceramic (εr = 6330 at Tc = 388 K) compared to BCT ceramic (εr = 5080 at Tc = 388.6 K). Moreover, the large-signal piezoelectric coefficient (d∗33) was improved from 270 to 310 pm/V in BCT and BCZT ceramics, respectively, under a moderate electric field of 25 kV/cm. The electrocaloric effect was determined via indirect and direct methods. In the indirect approach, the electrocaloric temperature change (ΔT) was calculated via Maxwell relation, and the measured ferroelectric polarization P (E, T) extracted from the P–E curves recorded at 24 kV/cm. The maximum values of ΔT = 0.68 K and the electrocaloric responsivity ζ = 0.283 K mm/kV obtained at 385 K in BCZT ceramic were found to be higher than those observed in BCT ceramic (ΔT = 0.37 K and ζ = 0.154 K mm/kV at 387 K). In the direct approach, ΔT was measured utilizing a modified high-resolution calorimeter at 14 kV/cm. As the direct method is more sensitive to the latent heat, it provided larger values for smaller applied field, i.e., ΔT = 0.474 and 0.668 K for BCT and BCZT ceramics, respectively. A significant ζ of 0.477 K mm/kV was obtained in BCZT at 385 K and 14 kV/cm that matches the values found in lead-based materials. These results suggest that BCZT lead-free ceramics could have an excellent potential to be used in solid-state refrigeration applications