OICC Press Journal of Nanostructure in Chemistry 2193-8865 5 4 (December 2015) 2015 07 24 Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of nano-sized La0.8Ca0.2Mn1−xFexO3 manganites prepared by sol–gel method 10.1007/s40097-015-0169-7 EN D. Fatnassi Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, TN Institute of Physics and Chemistry of Materials of Strasbourg, UMR 7504 CNRS Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg Cedex 2, 67034, FR Kheiria Sbissi Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, TN E. K. Hlil Institute Néel, CNRS et Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble Cedex 9, 38042, FR M. Ellouze Faculty of Sciences of Sfax, Sfax University, Sfax, TN J. L. Rehspringer Institute of Physics and Chemistry of Materials of Strasbourg, UMR 7504 CNRS Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg Cedex 2, 67034, FR F. Elhalouani National Engineering School of Sfax, Sfax, 3038, TN Journal Article 2015 07 24 Abstract We present an investigation on magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of nano-sized La 0.8 Ca 0.2 Mn 1− x Fe x O 3 ( x  = 0, 0.01, 0.15, 0.2) manganites synthesized by sol–gel process. X-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements were performed to investigate both crystallographic structure and magnetocaloric properties, respectively. All samples show an orthorhombic structure with Pnma space group. Ferromagnetic–paramagnetic transition sensitive to iron doping is observed at Curie temperature ( T C ) ranging from 223 K ( x  = 0) to 70 K ( x  = 0.2). In addition, a large magnetocaloric effect near T C is observed. Under a magnetic field change of 5 T, a maximum of magnetic entropy ΔSMmax\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \usepackage{amsmath} \usepackage{wasysym} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsbsy} \usepackage{mathrsfs} \usepackage{upgreek} \setlength{\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \begin{document}$$\Delta S_{\text{M}}^{ \hbox{max} }$$\end{document} reaches 4.42, 4.32, 1.6, and 0.54 J kg −1  K −1 , for x  = 0, x  = 0.01, x  = 0.15, and x  = 0.2, respectively. The relative cooling power (RCP) values were computed as well. RCP values of 164 and 117 J kg −1 were found for La 0.8 Ca 0.2 MnO 3 (LCM) and La 0.8 Ca 0.2 Mn .0.99 Fe 0.01 O 3 (LCMFe 0.01 ), respectively. The large values of entropy changes and related RCP allow concluding that our material could be a highly attractive candidate for magnetic refrigeration.