Systematic measurements pertinent to the magnetocaloric effect and nature of
magnetic transition around the transition temperature are performed in the 10
nm Pr0.5Ca0.5MnO3 nanoparticles (PCMO10) . Maxwell relation is employed to
estimate the change in magnetic entropy. At Curie temperature TC, 83.5 K, the
change in magnetic entropy discloses a typical variation with a value 0.57 J/kg
K, and is found to be magnetic field dependent. From the area under the curve
Delta S vs T, the refrigeration capacity is calculated at TC, 83.5 K and it is
found to be 7.01 J/kg. Arrott plots infer that due to the competition between
the ferromagnetic and anti ferromagnetic interactions, the magnetic phase
transition in PCMO10 is broadly spread over both in temperature as well as in
magnetic field coordinates. Upon tuning the particle size, size distribution,
morphology, and relative fraction of magnetic phases, it may be possible to
enhance the magnetocalorific effect further in PCMO10.Comment: Accepted (Journal of Applied Physics) (In press