  This work focuses on the microstructure, magnetic properties and
magnetocaloric effect of CoFe$_2$O$_4$ (CFO) nanoparticles elaborated by
sol-gel auto combustion method. The XRD investigation indicates that CFO is
crystallized in a cubic spinel structure and the SEM micrograph shows a fine
quasi-spherical with an average grain sizes of 160 nm. The temperature
dependence of the Raman spectra reveals the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic
(FM-PM) transition started from 723 K and the magnetization versus temperature
measurements shows the Curie temperature located at T$_{\rm C}$ = 785 K. Large
value of magnetocaloric temperature change of $\Delta$T =11.2 K with a high RCP
of 687.56 J Kg$^{-1}$ are achieved indirectly via the Maxwell approach making
our CFO nanopowder suitable candidate for both environmentally friendly
magnetic refrigeration and medical applications at ambient temperature.
