Short-range antiferromagnetic correlations and large magnetic entropy change in (La0.5Pr0.5)0.67Ca0.33MnO3

We report a detailed study of magnetic properties in manganite (La0.5Pr0.5)0.67Ca0.33MnO3. In contrast to the usual beliefs, it shows an abnormal upturn deviation from the Curie–Weiss law on the inverse susceptibility curve. Such a non-Griffiths-like phase is further confirmed from the inverse double integrated intensities of electron paramagnetic resonance spectrum. Because La $$³⁺$$ ions are substituted by Pr $$³⁺$$ ions with 50% concentrations, the ratio of three ions (La $$³⁺$$ , Pr $$³⁺$$ , Ca $$²⁺$$ ) is close to 1 on A-site sublattice. As a result, some short-range antiferromagnetic (CO AFM) phases come into being in the system due to the existence of localized charge ordering states. Therefore, the upturn deviation from Curie–Weiss law originates from the appearance of short-range CO AFM correlations above $$T_{\text{C}}$$ . Additionally, a magnetic field-driven-metamagnetic transition is found, which gives a main contribution for the large magnetic entropy change (MEC) observed in this sample. Both the Arrott plot and the renormalized MEC curves testify that this transition belongs to first-order magnetic transition. The insignificant hysteresis loop indicate that the inevitable thermal hysteresis can be ignored in the present first-order material implying that it is a potential candidate for the cryogenic temperature magnetic refrigeration.