Room-temperature magnetoresistive and magnetocaloric effect in La1−xBaxMnO3 compounds: Role of Griffiths phase with ferromagnetic metal cluster above Curie temperature

The evolution of the Griffiths phase (GP) with a ferromagnetic metal (FMM) cluster above the Curie temperature (TC) and its effect on the magnetic properties, electrical transport, magnetoresistance (MR), and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) is studied comprehensively, using bulk compounds of La1−xBaxMnO3 (0.15 ≤ x ≤ 0.25) with different lattice distortions but with the same structural symmetry and space group. These La1−xBaxMnO3 samples show ferromagnetic transition at TC increasing from 229 K for x = 0.15–300 K for x = 0.25, in addition to the presence of GP with FMM clusters in the paramagnetic (PM) region, which have been confirmed by the combination of magnetization (susceptibility) measurements, the GP theory, and electron paramagnetic resonance technology. With increasing the Ba2+ ion doping, GP temperature (TG) and TC of La1−xBaxMnO3 are increased, and the GP regime is strengthened. The GP ratio in the PM region reached 27.7% for the sample with x = 0.20. The resistivity decreases and the FMM phase increases with increasing x from 0.15 to 0.25, which can be explained by the decrease in the bandgap (Eg) and the enhancement of the double-exchange effect. Remarkably, large room-temperature MR (∼44.7%) can be observed in the sample with x = 0.25 under 60 kOe, which is related to the presence of the GP regime. Furthermore, the MCE is also affected by the GP regime, and it is deduced that the magnetic transition is of second order. The value of magnetic entropy change (|ΔSM|) reaches 3.04 J/kg K near room temperature for the sample with x = 0.25 under 50 kOe. This value is associated with a relative cooling power (RCP) of 248.1 J/kg. For the sample with x = 0.15, the value of RCP reaches 307.6 J/kg under 50 kOe. The discovery of the MR and MCE near room temperature is of great significance from the practical application of perovskite manganites in magnetic sensors and magnetic refrigerants.