Low hysteresis and large room temperature magnetocaloric effect of Gd 5Si2.05-xGe1.95-xNi2x (2x 0.08, 0.1) alloys

Abstract

Gd5Si2.05-xGe1.95-xNi2x (2x ¼ 0.08, 0.1) alloys were prepared by arc melting followed by annealing at 1273 K for 96 h. Mixed monoclinic Gd5Si2Ge2-type phase, orthorhombic Gd5Si4-type phase, and a small amount of Gd5Si3-type phase were obtained in these alloys. Gd5Si2.01Ge1.91Ni0.08 alloy undergoes a second-order transition (TC) around 300 K, whereas Gd5Si2Ge1.9Ni0.1 alloy exhibits two II I transitions including a first-order transition (TC ) at rv295 K and second-order transition (TC ) at rv301 K. Ni substitution can effectively reduce the thermal hysteresis and magnetic hysteresis while max maintaining large magnetic entropy change. The maximum magnetic entropy changes (|DSM |) of 1 -1 Gd5Si2.05-xGe1.95-xNi2x alloys with 2x ¼ 0.08 and 0.1 are 4.4 and 5.0 J kg- K, respectively, for 0–2 T, and are 8.0 and 9.1 J kg-1 K-1, respectively, for 0–5 T. Low hysteresis performance and relatively large magnetic entropy change make these alloys favorable for magnetic refrigeration applications.