Giant magnetocaloric effect and second order phase transition in PrMnO3

Magnetocaloric effect and the order of magnetic phase transitions of polycrystalline PrMnO3 have been investigated through magnetization measurements. The amount of magnetic entropy-change has been calculated by Maxwell relation and the maximum value of -△SMmax was found to be 23.4 Jkg-1K−1 at 5 T applied magnetic field. Near Curie temperature (TC = 104 K), PrMnO3 exhibits a second order paramagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition. The order of magnetic phase transition is determined with the help of Arrott plot and Landau temperature dependent coefficient b(T). A 3D magnetic entropy plot is also implemented to further evaluate the order of magnetic phase transition. The fact that this material has large value of magnetic entropy change paired with second order magnetic phase transition at a low strength applied magnetic field indicates its potential suitability for use in magnetic refrigeration devices.