From single- to double-first-order magnetic phase transition in magnetocaloric Mn 1 - x Cr x CoGe compounds
Abstract
Substitution of some Cr for Mn atoms in MnCoGe was employed to control the magnetic and structural transitions in this alloy to coincide, leading to a single first-order magnetostructural transition from the ferromagnetic to the paramagnetic state with a giant magnetocaloric effect observed near room temperature. Further increase in the Cr content in the Mn 1 - x Cr x CoGe alloys can induce another first-order magnetoelastic transition from the antiferromagnetic to the ferromagnetic state occurring at lower temperature. The giant magnetocaloric effect as well as the simultaneous tunability of the two magnetic transitions make these materials promising for future cooling applications.
- Publication:
-
Applied Physics Letters
- Pub Date:
- April 2010
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.3399774
- Bibcode:
- 2010ApPhL..96p2507T
- Keywords:
-
- chromium compounds;
- cobalt compounds;
- ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic transitions;
- ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transitions;
- magnetocaloric effects;
- magnetoelastic effects;
- manganese compounds;
- 75.30.Kz;
- 75.30.Sg;
- 75.80.+q;
- 75.50.Dd;
- Magnetic phase boundaries;
- Magnetocaloric effect magnetic cooling;
- Magnetomechanical and magnetoelectric effects magnetostriction;
- Nonmetallic ferromagnetic materials