Influence of phase boundary on magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of nanocrystalline La0.17Ca0.83MnO3 sample

In this present study we report the Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect of two nanocrystalline La 0.17 Ca 0.83 MnO 3 samples with average particle size ∼ 40 nm and ∼ 70 nm. According to the reported phase diagram, the bulk compound lies near the phase boundary between charge ordered antiferromagnetic and canted antiferromagnetic state. In contrast to the bulk counterpart, the significant effect of the phase boundary was observed on the physical properties of nanocrystalline compounds. Moreover, the signature of canted magnetic phase in nanocrystalline sample was probed through magnetocaloric effect study. • Presence of weak canted magnetic phase was probed in nanocrystalline samples. • Surface induced ferromagnetism arises in reduced dimension. • Antiferromagnetic signature of bulk compound is still present in its nano scale regime.