Magnetocaloric effect study of SrFe0.8Co0.2O3 single crystal prepared under high pressureProject supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2014CB921500) and the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No. XDB07030300).

A high-quality SrFe0.8Co0.2O3 single crystal is prepared by combining floating-zone and high-pressure treatment methods. Its Magnetocaloric effect is investigated by magnetic measurements. A paramagnetism-to-ferromagnetism transition is found at about 270 K and this transition is a second-order one in nature as confirmed by Arrott plots. The saturated moment obtained at 2 K and 7 T is 3.63 mu(B)/f.u. The maximal value of magnetic entropy change measured at 5 T is about 4.0 J.kg(-1) .K-1. The full wide at half maximum for a magnetic entropy change peak observed in SrFe0.8Co0.2O3 is considerably large. As a consequence, the relative cooling power value of SrFe0.8Co0.2O3 obtained at 5 T is 331 J/kg, which is greatly higher than those observed in other perovskite oxides. The present work therefore provides a promising candidate for magnetic refrigeration near room temperature.