The magnetocaloric effect in the metamagnetic Ni43Mn37.9In12.1Co7 Heusler alloy is directly studied experimentally under the adiabatic and quasi-isothermal conditions in a magnetic field with induction of up to 14 T.
We report the anomalous magnetocaloric behavior in the polycrystalline compound Tb2Ni2Sn. The magnetization measurements show that this compound shows multiple magnetic transitions, which are attributed to the coexistence of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases at low temperatures. With increase in field and temperature, the compound undergoes a metamagnetic transition to a ferromagnetic state. In the temperature range where the antiferromagnetic phase is dominant, it exhibits inverse (negative) magnetocaloric effect. At temperatures close to the Neel temperature, the compound shows posi…
The inverse magnetocaloric effect taking place at the antiferro-to-ferromagnetic transition of (Co,Fe)MnP phosphides has been characterized by magnetic and direct ΔTad measurements. In Co0.53Fe0.47MnP, entropy change of 1.5 Jkg-1K-1 and adiabatic temperature change of 0.6 K are found at room temperature for an intermediate field change (ΔB= 1 T). Several methods were used to control the metamagnetic transition properties, in each case a peculiar splitting of the antiferro-to-ferromagnetic transition is observed.
A coupling of the first-order paramagnetic-to-induced-ferromagnetic martensitic and the second-order antiferromagnetic-to-ferromagnetic metamagnetic transitions was found in MnNi0.8Fe0.2Ge alloy. Based on the coupling, a magneto-volume effect driven by the martensitic transition and a table-like magnetocaloric effect generated by the successive magnetic phase transitions arise collectively. By using the magneto-volume effect, the internal pressure stress in the volume-expansion martensitic transition was determined at 350 MPa. The magnetocaloric effect, with a wide working temperature range of…
Ni$_{50}$Mn$_{34}$In$_{16}$ undergoes a martensitic transformation around 250 K and exhibits a field induced reverse martensitic transformation and substantial magnetocaloric effects. We substitute small amounts Ga for In, which are isoelectronic, to carry these technically important properties to close to room temperature by shifting the martensitic transformation temperature.
The large magnetocaloric effect in Heusler alloys showing martensite phase transformation puts them forward as efficient materials for magnetic refrigeration. However, irreversibility of the magnetocaloric cooling cycle is a major challenge for real applications. This irreversibility is directly linked to the thermal hysteresis at the first-order martensite phase transition. Therefore, minimizing the hysteresis is essential in order to achieve reversibility. Here we show a large reduction in the thermal hysteresis at the martensite transition in the Ni$_{2}$Mn$_{1.4}$In$_{0.6}$ and Ni$_{1.8}$C…
In the present work, two successive magneto-structural transformations (MSTs) consisting of martensitic and intermartensitic transitions have been reported in polycrystalline Ni55.8Mn18.1Ga26.1 Heusler alloy. Benefiting from the additional latent heat contributed from intermediate phase, this alloy exhibits a large transition entropy change ΔStr with the value of ~28 J/kg K. Moreover, the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) has been also evaluated in terms of Maxwell relation. For the magnetic field change of 3 T, it is found that the calculated value of refrigeration capacity for Ni55.8Mn18.1Ga26.1 a…
Heusler alloys are widely studied due to their interesting structural and magnetic properties, like magnetic memory shape ability, coupled magneto-structural phase transitions and half-metallicity; ruled, for many cases, by the valence electrons number ($N_v$). The present work focuses on the magnetocaloric potentials of half-metals, exploring the effect of $N_v$ on the magnetic entropy change, preserving half-metallicity. The test bench is the Si-rich side of the half-metallic series Fe$_2$MnSi$_{1-x}$Ga$_x$. From the obtained experimental results it was possible to obtain $|ΔS|_{max}=ΔH^{0.8…
Using Density Functional Theory and a thermodynamic model [Physical Review B 86, 134418 (2012)], in this paper, we provide an approach to systematically screen compounds of a given Heusler family to predict ones that can yield giant magnetocaloric effect driven by a first-order magneto-structural transition. We apply this approach to two Heusler series Ni$_{2-x}$Fe$_{x}$Mn$_{1+z-y}$Cu$_{y}$Sb$_{1-z}$ and Ni$_{2-x}$Co$_{x}$Mn$_{1+z-y}$Cu$_{y}$Sb$_{1-z}$, obtained by cosubstitution at Ni and Mn sites. We predict four new compounds with potentials to achieve the target properties. Our computation…
The magnetic and thermodynamic properties of a Ni2.19Mn0.81Ga alloy with coupled magnetic and structural (martensitic) phase transitions were studied experimentally and theoretically. The magnetocaloric effect was measured by a direct method in magnetic fields 0-26 kOe at temperatures close to the magnetostructural transition temperature. For theoretical description of the alloy properties near the magnetostructural transition a statistical model is suggested, that takes into account the coexistence of martensite and austenite domains in the vicinity of martensite transformation point.
We report an improved reversibility of magnetostriction and inverse magnetocaloric effect (MCE) for the magnetic shape-memory Heusler alloy Ni$_{1.8}$Mn$_{1.8}$In$_{0.4}$. We show that the magnetostriction and MCE crucially depends on the geometrical compatibility of the austenite and martensite phases. Detailed information on the compatibility of both phases has been obtained from the transformation matrix calculated from x-ray diffraction data. The uniqueness of the lattice parameters results in an improved reversibility of the magnetostriction and the MCE. In the thermal hysteresis region o…
We have studied the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in the shape-memory Heusler alloy Ni$_{50}$Mn$_{35}$In$_{15}$ by direct measurements in pulsed magnetic fields up to 6 and 20 T. The results in 6 T are compared with data obtained from heat-capacity experiments. We find a saturation of the inverse MCE, related to the first-order martensitic transition, with a maximum adiabatic temperature change of $ΔT_{ad} = -7$ K at 250 K and a conventional field-dependent MCE near the second-order ferromagnetic transition in the austenitic phase. The pulsed magnetic field data allow for an analysis of the temp…
Magnetocaloric effect (MCE), magnetization, specific heat, and magnetostriction measurements were performed in both pulsed and steady high magnetic fields to investigate the magnetocaloric properties of Heusler alloys Ni50-xCoxMn31.5Ga18.5 (x = 9 and 9.7). From direct MCE measurements for Ni41Co9Mn31.5Ga18.5 up to 56 T, a steep temperature drop was observed for magnetic-field-induced martensitic transformation (MFIMT), designated as inverse MCE. Remarkably, this inverse MCE is apparent not only with MFIMT, but also in the magnetic-field-induced austenite phase. Specific heat measurements under…
We investigated magnetic and magnetocaloric properties in Sm1-xSrxMnO3 (x = 0.30-0.5). We report a magnetic field driven first-order metamagnetic transition in the paramagnetic state in x = 0.4 and 0.5 and a second-order transition in x = 0.3. The highest magnetic entropy (-Sm = 6.2 J/kgK for H = 5 T at T = 125 K) that occurs in x = 0.4 is associated with the metamagnetic transition resulting from the field-induced growth and coalescence of ferromagnetic nano clusters preexisting in the paramagnetic state. Our results suggest that manganites with intrinsic nanoscale phase separation can be exp…
Direct measurements of the magnetocaloric effect in samples of rapidly quenched ribbons of Mn50Ni40In10 and Ni50Mn37Sn13 Heusler alloys, with potential applications in magnetic refrigeration technology, are carried out. The measurements were made by a precise method based on the measurement of the oscillation amplitude of the temperature in the sample while is subjected to a modulated magnetic field. In the studied compositions both direct and inverse magnetocaloric effects associated with magnetic (paramagnet - ferromagnet - antiferromagnet) and structural (austenite - martensite) phase trans…
Ni-Mn-based metamagnetic shape-memory alloys exhibit a giant thermal response to magnetic fields and uniaxial stress which can be utilized in single caloric or multicaloric cooling concepts for energy-efficient and sustainable refrigeration. However, during cyclic operation these alloys suffer from structural and functional fatigue as a result of their high intrinsic brittleness. Here, we present based on Fe-doping of Ni-Mn-In a microstructure design strategy which simultaneously improves cyclic stability and maintains the excellent magnetocaloric and elastocaloric properties. Our results reve…
Polycrystalline Heusler compounds Ni2Mn0.75Cu0.25Ga0.84Al0.16 with a martensitic transition between ferromagnetic phases and Ni2Mn0.70Cu0.30Ga0.84Al0.16 with a magnetostructural transformation were investigated by magnetization and thermal measurements, both as a function of temperature and magnetic field. The compound Ni2Mn0.75Cu0.25Ga0.84Al0.16 presents a large magnetocaloric effect among magnetically aligned structures and its causes are explored. In addition, Ni2Mn0.70Cu0.30Ga0.84Al0.16 shows very high, although irreversible, entropy and adiabatic temperature change at room temperature und…
The world's growing hunger for artificial cold on the one hand, and the ever more stringent climate targets on the other, pose an enormous challenge to mankind. Novel, efficient and environmentally friendly refrigeration technologies based on solid-state refrigerants can offer a way out of the problems arising from climate-damaging substances used in conventional vapor-compressors. Multicaloric materials stand out because of their large temperature changes which can be induced by the application of different external stimuli such as a magnetic, electric, or a mechanical field. Despite the high…
A large conventional magnetocaloric effect at the second order magnetic transition in cubic Ni2Mn1.4In0.6 Heusler alloy is reported. The isothermal magnetization at 2K shows a huge ground state magnetic moment of about 6.17 μB/f.u. The theoretical calculations show that the origin of the large magnetic moment in cubic Ni2Mn1.4In0.6 results from the strong ferromagnetic interaction between Mn- Ni and Mn-Mn sublattices. The experimental magnetic moment is in excellent agreement with the moment calculated from the theory. The large magnetic moment gives rise to considerably high adiabatic tempera…
Novel Ni-Co-Mn-Ti all-d-metal Heusler alloys are exciting due to large multicaloric effects combined with enhanced mechanical properties. An optimized heat treatment for a series of these compounds leads to very sharp phase transitions in bulk alloys with isothermal entropy changes of up to 38 J kg$^{-1}$ K$^{-1}$ for a magnetic field change of 2 T. The differences of as-cast and annealed samples are analyzed by investigating microstructure and phase transitions in detail by optical microscopy. We identify different grain structures as well as stoichiometric (in)homogenieties as reasons for di…
Development of a self-consistent thermodynamically optimized database along with phase transition experiments in Ni-Mn-Ga system for magnetocaloric applications
We study the magnetocaloric effect and critical behavior of Co$_2$Cr$_{1-x}$Mn$_x$Al ($x=$ 0.25, 0.5, 0.75) Heusler alloys across the ferromagnetic (FM) transition (T$_{\rm C}$). The Rietveld refinement of x-ray diffraction patterns exhibit single phase cubic structure for all the samples. The temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility $χ$(T) data show a systematic enhancement in the Curie temperature and effective magnetic moment with Mn concentration, which is consistent with the Slater-Pauling behavior. The M(H) isotherms also exhibit the FM ordering and the analysis of $χ$(T) data indic…
At certain compositions Ni-Mn-$X$ Heusler alloys ($X$: group IIIA-VA elements) undergo martensitic transformations, and many of them exhibit inverse magnetocaloric effects. In alloys where $X$ is Sn, the isothermal entropy change is largest among the Heusler alloys, particularly in Ni$_{50}$Mn$_{37}$Sn$_{13}$ where it reaches a value of 20 Jkg$^{-1}$K$^{-1}$ for a field of 5T. We substitute Ni with Fe and Co in this alloy, each in amounts of 1 at% and 3 at% to perturb the electronic concentration and examine the resulting changes in the magnetocaloric properties. Increasing both Fe and Co conc…
We report a novel negative magnetocaloric effect in CoMnSi_{1-x}Ge_{x} arising from a metamagnetic magnetoelastic transition. The effect is of relevance to magnetic refrigeration over a wide range of temperature, including room temperature. In addition we report a very high shift in the metamagnetic transition temperature with applied magnetic field. This is driven by competition between antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic order which can be readily tuned by applied pressure and compositional changes.
We report a systematic study on the magneto-structural transition in Mn-rich Fe-doped Mn-Fe-Ni-Sn(Sb/In) Heusler alloys by keeping the total valence electron concentration (e/a ratio) fixed. The martensitic transition (MT) temperature is found to shift by following a proportional relationship with the e/a ratio of the magnetic elements alone. The magnetic entropy change across MT for a selected sample (Mn49FeNi40Sn9In) has been estimated from three different measurement methods (isofield magnetization (M) vs temperature (T), isothermal M vs field (H) and heat capacity (HC) vs T). We observed t…
We present here the improved crystallographic/geometric compatibility and magnetocaloric reversibility by measurement of magnetic entropy change using different protocols in 10% Pt substituted Ni2Mn1.4In0.6 magnetic shape memory alloy. The substitution of Pt reduces the thermal hysteresis about 50% to the Ni2Mn1.4In0.6. The origin of the reduced thermal hysteresis is investigated by the crystallographic compatibility of the austenite and martensite phases. The calculated middle eigenvalue of the transformation matrix turned out to be 0.9982, which is very close to 1 (deviation is only 0.18%) s…
Direct measurements of the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in different materials (Gd, Fe48Rh52, Ni43Mn37.9In12.1Co7 and Ni2.07Co0.09Mn0.84Ga) in alternating magnetic fields with frequencies f < 22 Hz and an amplitude deltaH = 6.2 kOe are carried out. The MCE in Gd shows inconsiderable changes with field frequency. Near paramagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition in Ni43Mn37.9In12.1Co7 Heusler alloy a slight reduction of MCE with frequency is observed. In weak alternating fields in materials with AFM-FM magneto-structural phase transitions (Fe48Rh52, Ni43Mn37.9In12.1Co7) it is not possible to get …
In this study we report a method for the preparation of freestanding magnetocaloric thin films. Non-stoichiometric Heusler alloys Ni-Mn-Sn, Ni-Co-Mn-Sn and Ni-Co-Mn-Al are prepared via sputter deposition. A sacrificial vanadium layer is added between the substrate and the Heusler film. By means of selective wet-chemical etching the vanadium layer can be removed. Conditions for the crystallization of Vanadium layers and epitaxial growth of the Heusler films are indicated. Magnetic and structural properties of freestanding and as-prepared films are compared in detail. The main focus of this stud…
We have studied the effect of magnetic field on a non-stoichiometric Heusler alloy Ni$_{50}$Mn$_{35}$In$_{15}$ that undergoes a martensitic as well as a magnetic transition near room temperature. Temperature dependent magnetization measurements demonstrate the influence of magnetic field on the structural phase transition temperature. From the study of magnetization as a function of applied field, we show the occurrence of inverse-magnetocaloric effect associated with this magneto-structural transition. The magnetic entropy change attains a value as high as 25 J/kg-K (at 5 T field) at room tem…
In this paper we report the existence of a giant magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in a intermetallic compound non-containing rare-earth. This effect is associated with the concomitant occurrence of a structural and a magnetic transition. The result has been compared with that obtained in a parent compound in which magnetic and structural transition occur separately.
Heusler alloys are promising for several applications, including magnetic refrigeration, due to high magnetocaloric and magnetovolume effects. One way to optimize this potential is by increasing the magnetovolume effect. Using density functional theory with the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method, we calculate the effective exchange interaction energies and corresponding mean field Curie temperature as a function of the volume (hydrostatic pressure) in several L2 1 -type Co 2 YZ Heusler alloys. Different qualitative trends and signs of the pressure derivatives of the Curie temperature and moments ar…
We describe an ab-initio Disordered Local Moment Theory for materials with quenched static compositional disorder traversing first order magnetic phase transitions. It accounts quantitatively for metamagnetic changes and the magnetocaloric effect. For perfect stoichiometric B2-ordered FeRh, we calculate the transition temperature of the ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic transition to be $T_t =$ 495K and a maximum isothermal entropy change in 2 Tesla of $|ΔS|= 21.1$ J~K$^{-1}$~kg$^{-1}$. A large (40\%) component of $|ΔS|$ is electronic. The transition results from a fine balance of competing elec…
The inverse magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in Ni-Mn-based Heusler compounds occurs during the magnetostructural transition between low-temperature, low-magnetization martensite and high-temperature, high-magnetization austenite. In this study, we analyze the metamagnetic transformation of a $Ni_{49.8}Mn_{35}In_{15.2}$ compound by simultaneous adiabatic temperature change and strain measurements in pulsed magnetic fields up to 10 T. We observe an adiabatic temperature change of -10 K and a strain of -0.22 % when the reverse martensitic transition is fully induced at a starting temperature of 285 K…
We report on the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of a MnRhAs single crystal. The ternary arsenide exhibits a rather complex magnetic behaviour. A first order metamagnetic type transition from antiferromagnetic (AFI) to ferromagnetic (F) states takes place at Tt ~ 158 K, and a second order transition from ferromagnetic (F) to antiferromagnetic (AFII) states occurs at TC ~196 K, the paramagnetic state occurring at T > TN = 238 K. Magnetic entropy changes were calculated using, Maxwell relation and Clausius-Clapeyron equation. Both approaches are compared and discussed. The AFI-F transitio…
Influence of Gd-rich precipitates on the martensitic transformation, magnetocaloric effect and mechanical properties of Ni-Mn-In Heusler alloys -- A comparative study
Technical University of Darmstadt(达姆施塔特工业大学);Key Laboratory of Aerospace Materials and Performance (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University(北京航空航天大学材料科学与工程学院航空航天材料与性能教育部重点实验室)
The effect of external pressure on the magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect of R(Co1-xSix)2 [R= Er, Dy and x=0, 0.025 and 0.05] compounds has been studied. The ordering temperatures of both the parent as well as the Si substituted compounds are found to decrease with pressure. In all the compounds, the critical field for metamagnetic transition increases with pressure. It is seen that the magnetocaloric effect in the parent compounds is almost insensitive to pressure, while there is considerable enhancement in the case of Si substituted compounds. Spin fluctuations arising due to the …
It is known that orthorhombic RMnO3 multiferroics (R = magnetic rare earth) with low symmetry exhibit a large rotating magnetocaloric effect because of their strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy. In this paper, we demonstrate that the hexagonal ErMnO3 single crystals also unveils a giant rotating magnetocaloric effect that can be obtained by spinning them in constant magnetic fields around their a or b axes. When the ErMnO3 crystal is rotated with the magnetic field initially parallel to the c-axis, the resulting entropy change reaches maximum values of 7, 17 and 20 J/kg K under a constant mag…
We put a spotlight on the exceptional magnetic properties of the metamagnetic Heusler alloy (Ni,Co)-Mn-Sn by means of first principles simulations. In the energy landscape we find a multitude of local minima, which belong to different ferrimagnetic states and are close in total magnetization and energy. All these magnetic states correspond to the local high spin state of the Mn atoms with different spin alignments and are related to the magnetic properties of Mn. Compared to pure Mn, the magneto-volume coupling is reduced by Ni, Co, and Sn atoms in the lattice and no local low-spin Mn states a…
The structural, magnetic, magnetocaloric and magnetotransport properties of Ni46Co4Mn38Sb12 melt spun ribbons have been systematically investigated. The partially ordered B2 phase of the as-spun ribbon transforms to fully ordered L21 phase upon annealing, which signifies a considerable change of the atomic ordering in the system. The presence of atomic disorder in the as-spun ribbon gives rise to a higher martensitic transition temperature and a lower magnetization as compared to the bulk sample. However, annealing the ribbons helps in regaining the bulk properties to a large extent. Significa…
The pressure dependence of electronic structure, exchange interactions and Curie temperature in ferromagnetic Heusler alloy Ni2MnSn has been studied theoretically within the framework of the density-functional theory. The calculation of the exchange parameters is based on the frozen--magnon approach. The Curie temperature, Tc, is calculated within the mean-field approximation by solving the matrix equation for a multi-sublattice system. In agrement with experiment the Curie temperature increased from 362K at ambient pressure to 396 at 12 GPa. Extending the variation of the lattice parameter be…
The large magnetocaloric effect (MCE) observed in Ni-Mn based shape-memory Heusler alloys put them forward to use in magnetic refrigeration technology. It is associated with a first-order magnetostructural (martensitic) phase transition. We conducted a comprehensive study of the MCE for the off-stoichiometric Heusler alloy Ni$_{2.2}$Mn$_{0.8}$Ga in the vicinity of its first-order magnetostructural phase transition. We found a reversible MCE under repeated magnetic field cycles. The reversible behavior can be attributed to the small thermal hysteresis of the martensitic phase transition. Based …
A method for direct measurement of the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in alternating magnetic fields is offered. Main advantages of the method compared to a classical direct one are the high temperature sensitivity (better than 10-3 K); the ability of measuring of MCE in weak magnetic fields (by several tens oersteds and higher); the ability of measuring of MCE on small-sized samples (1x1x 0.01 mm3 and larger); the ability of measuring of MCE in alternating magnetic fields up to 50 Hz of frequency. The results on measurement of MCE on Gd and Ni-Mn-In Heusler alloy are reported.
Off-stoichiometric Ni$_2$MnIn Heusler alloys have drawn recent attention due to their large magnetocaloric entropy change associated with the first-order magneto-structural transition. Here we present crystal structural, calorimetric and magnetic studies of three compositions. Temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction shows clear structural transition from a 6M modulated monoclinic to a L2$_1$ cubic. A significant enhancement of relative cooling power (RCP) was achieved by tuning the magnetic and structural stability through minor compositional changes, with the measured results quantitatively c…
Magnetic and heat capacity measurements have been carried out on the polycrystalline sample of DyNi which crystallizes in the orthorhombic FeB structure (space group Pnma). This compound is ferromagnetic with a Curie temperature of 59 K. Magnetization-field isotherms at low temperatures shows a step-like behavior characteristic of metamagnetic transitions. The magnetocaloric effect has been measured both in terms of isothermal magnetic entropy change and adiabatic temperature change for various applied magnetic fields. The maximum values of the entropy change and the temperature change are fou…
Heusler alloys exhibiting magnetic and martensitic transitions enable applications like magnetocaloric refrigeration and actuation based on the magnetic shape memory effect. Their outstanding functional properties depend on low hysteresis losses and low actuation fields. These are only achieved if the atomic positions deviate from a tetragonal lattice by periodic displacements. The origin of the so-called modulated structures is the subject of much controversy: They are either explained by phonon softening or adaptive nanotwinning. Here we used large-scale density functional theory calculation…
The non-stoichiometric Heusler alloy Ni$_{50}$Mn$_{36}$In$_{14}$ undergoes a martensitic phase transformation in the vicinity of 345 K, with the high temperature austenite phase exhibiting paramagnetic rather than ferromagnetic behavior, as shown in similar alloys with lower-temperature transformations. Suitably prepared samples are shown to exhibit a sharp transformation, a relatively small thermal hysteresis, and a large field-induced entropy change. We analyzed the magnetocaloric behavior both through magnetization and direct field-dependent calorimetry measurements. For measurements passin…
Ni-Mn-In magnetic shape-memory Heusler alloys exhibit generally a large thermal hysteresis at their first-order martensitic phase transition which hinder a technological application in magnetic refrigeration. By optimizing the Cu content in Ni$_2$Cu$_x$Mn$_{1.4-x}$In$_{0.6}$, we obtained a thermal hysteresis of the martensitic phase transition in Ni$_{2}$Cu$_{0.2}$Mn$_{1.2}$In$_{0.6}$ of only 6 K. We can explain this very small hysteresis by an almost perfect habit plane at the interface of martensite and austenite phases. Application of hydrostatic pressure does not reduce the hysteresis furt…
Polycrystalline HoSn1.1Ge0.9 and DySn1.1Ge0.9 compounds have been studied by means of different experimental probes. Both the compounds are antiferromagnetic and show metamagnetic transition at low temperatures. HoSn1.1Ge0.9 shows a sign change in magnetocaloric effect (MCE) and magnetoresistance (MR) with field, which is attributed to the metamagnetic transition. DySn1.1Ge0.9 shows characteristics of a typical antiferromagnet, as evidenced by magnetization, MCE and MR data. 119Sn Mössbauer studies show hyperfine splitting at low temperatures, consistent with magnetization data. Thermoelectric…
The structural, magnetic, and magnetocaloric properties of epitaxial Ni-Co-Mn-Al thin films with different compositions have been studied. The films were deposited on MgO(001) substrates by co-sputtering on heated substrates. All films show a martensitic transformation, where the transformation temperatures are strongly dependent on the composition. The structure of the martensite phase is shown to be 14M. The metamagnetic martensitic transformation occurs from strongly ferromagnetic austenite to weakly magnetic martensite. The structural properties of the films were investigated by atomic for…
Novel multicaloric cooling utilizing the giant caloric response of Ni-Mn-based metamagnetic shape-memory alloys to different external stimuli such as magnetic field, uniaxial stress and hydrostatic pressure is a promising candidate for energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly refrigeration. However, the role of microstructure when several external fields are applied simultaneously or sequentially has been scarcely discussed in literature. Here, we synthesized ternary Ni-Mn-In alloys by suction casting and arc melting and analyzed the microstructural influence on the response to magnetic f…
Magnetic, magnetocaloric and exchange bias properties have been systematically investigated in Ni46Co4Mn38Sb12 ribbon by applying magnetic field along (IP) and perpendicular (OP) to the ribbon plane. From the thermo-magnetization curves, the sharpness of the martensitic transition is observed to be nearly the same for both IP and OP ribbons. The thermomagnetic irreversibility region is found to be larger in the OP ribbon at 500 Oe, indicating that the magnetic anisotropy is larger in this case. The OP ribbon shows the Hopkinson maximum at 500 Oe, both for the FCC and ZFC modes. The magnetizati…
Thermal hysteresis is recognized as one of the main drawbacks for cyclical applications of magnetocaloric and ferromagnetic shape memory materials with first order transformations. As such, the challenge is to develop strategies that improve the compatibility between the phases involved in the transitions and study its influence on thermal hysteresis. With this purpose, we explore the thermal, structural and magnetic properties of the Ni2Mn1-xCuxGa0.84Al0.16 Heusler alloys. The alloys present a thermal hysteresis reduction of ~60% when the Cu content in the compound varies from x = 0.10 to x =…
Magnetic ground state, critical analysis of magnetization, and large magnetocaloric effect in the ferromagnetically coupled kagome lattice YCa$_3$(MnO)$_3$(BO$_3$)$_4$
In an effort to produce Giant Magnetocaloric effect (GMCE) near room temperature, in a first ever such study, the austenite transformation temperature (As) was fine tuned to ferromagnetic Curie temperature (TC) in Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Alloys (FSMA) and a large GMCE of delta-SM = - 81.75 J/Kg-K was achieved in Ni50Mn18.5Cu6.5Ga25 alloy during reverse martensitic transformation (heating cycle) for a magnetic field change of 9 T at 302.5 K. Fine tuning of As with TC was achieved by Cu substitution in Ni50Mn25-xCuxGa25 (0< x < 7.0)-based FSMAs. Characterizations of these alloys were carried …