X-ray absorption spectroscopy and magnetocaloric study of Pr1-xSrxCoO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5)

Abstract We have conducted X-ray absorption spectroscopy study for perovskite cobaltite Pr 1- x Sr x CoO 3 (0 ≤  x  ≤ 0.5) to understand Sr doping effect and magnetocaloric measurement for Pr 0.5 Sr 0.5 CoO 3 to reveal the origin of magnetic anomaly at around 110 K. The extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements at the Co K -edge suggest that the average valence value of Co ions increases, the interatomic distance of Co–O bonding decreases, and the local distortion of CoO 6 octahedron increases as Sr is doped in PrCoO 3 . The interatomic distance of Co–O bonding shrinks more greatly for the larger doping region. No temperature dependent electronic and structural changes were observed from Co K -edge X-ray absorption spectra in the whole thermal range studied (17–300 K). The magnetocaloric effect of Pr 0.5 Sr 0.5 CoO 3 indicates the change of magnetic structure at 110 K.