Multifunctionality from coexistence of large magnetoresistance and magnetocaloric effect in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3

We report the existence of multifunctionality involving large magnetoresistance (MR) and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) near room temperature in La0.7Ca0.3MnO3. A peak in the temperature dependence of the magnetoresistance and a change in the magnetic entropy (ΔSM) are observed at 251 K, with a maximum magnetoresistance MR (defined as ρ(0)∕ρ(H)−1) of about 206% and a maximum ΔSM of approximately 7.54 J∕kgK, at a field of 5 T, where the Curie temperature (TC) and metal‐insulator transition coexist at 251 K. The magnetic entropy change is measured on the basis of resistive measurements, which are close to the values obtained from the M‐H curves in the intermediate temperature region, as well as close to TC. The large MR and large MCE suggest that the material is interesting for multiple applications.