Large Magnetization and Reversible Magnetocaloric Effect at the Second-Order Magnetic Transition in Heusler Materials.

Singh, Sanjay; Caron, Luana; D'Souza, Sunil Wilfred; Fichtner, Tina; Porcari, Giacomo; Fabbrici, Simone; Shekhar, Chandra; Chadov, Stanislav et al. · Adv Mater · 2016

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

In contrast to rare-earth-based materials, cheaper and more environmentally friendly candidates for cooling applications are found within the family of Ni-Mn Heusler alloys. Initial interest in these materials is focused on the first-order magnetostructural transitions. However, large hysteresis makes a magnetocaloric cycle irreversible. Alternatively, here it is shown how the Heusler family can be used to optimize reversible second-order magnetic phase transitions for magnetocaloric applications.