We reported the magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects(MCE) of(La0.8Ho0.2)2/3Ca1/3MnO3 and(La0.5Ho0.5)2/3Ca1/3MnO3 nanoparticles by sol-gel technique.With this method,we were able to obtain the samples with pa...We reported the magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects(MCE) of(La0.8Ho0.2)2/3Ca1/3MnO3 and(La0.5Ho0.5)2/3Ca1/3MnO3 nanoparticles by sol-gel technique.With this method,we were able to obtain the samples with particle diameters ranging from 50 to 200 nm.In the(La1-xHox)2/3Ca1/3MnO3 compound,an external magnetic field induced a magnetic transition from an paramagnetic phase to a ferromagnetic phase above Ts=105-135 K,leading to magnetocaloric effects.The maximum value of ΔSM was 1.19 J/(kg·K) at 100 K and 2.03 J/(kg·K) at 152 K for a magnetic field change of 5 T.Because both samples had large relative cooling power(RCP) and wide δTFWHM,the study on systems with the(La1-xHox)2/3Ca1/3MnO3-related magnetic transitions may open an important field in searching good magnetic materials.展开更多
We investigate the structure, magnetic properties, magnetic phase transitions and magnetocaloric effects(MCEs) of Er5Si3Bx(x=0.3,0.6) compounds. The Er5Si3Bx(x = 0.3, 0.6) compounds crystalize in a Mn5Si3type hexagona...We investigate the structure, magnetic properties, magnetic phase transitions and magnetocaloric effects(MCEs) of Er5Si3Bx(x=0.3,0.6) compounds. The Er5Si3Bx(x = 0.3, 0.6) compounds crystalize in a Mn5Si3type hexagonal structure(space group: P63/cm) and exhibit a successive complicated magnetic phase transition. The extensive magnetic phase transitions contribute to the broad temperature range of MCEs exhibiting in Er_(5)Si_(3)B_(x)(x=0.3,0.6) compounds, with maximum magnetic entropy change(-ΔSM_(max)) and refrigeration capacity of 10.2 J·kg^(-1)·K^(-1), 356.3 J/kg and 11.5 J·kg^(-1)·K^(-1),393.3 J/kg under varying magnetic fields 0–5 T, respectively. Remarkably, the δTFWHMvalues(the temperature range corresponding to 1/2×|-ΔSM_(max)|) of Er5Si3Bx(x=0.3,0.6) compounds were up to 41.8 K and 39.6 K, respectively. Thus, the present work provides a potential magnetic refrigeration material with a broad temperature range MCEs for applications in cryogenic magnetic refrigerators.展开更多
The magnetocaloric effect(MCE) of RT Si and RT Al systems with R = Gd–Tm, T = Fe–Cu and Pd, which have been widely investigated in recent years, is reviewed. It is found that these RT X compounds exhibit various c...The magnetocaloric effect(MCE) of RT Si and RT Al systems with R = Gd–Tm, T = Fe–Cu and Pd, which have been widely investigated in recent years, is reviewed. It is found that these RT X compounds exhibit various crystal structures and magnetic properties, which then result in different MCE. Large MCE has been observed not only in the typical ferromagnetic materials but also in the antiferromagnetic materials. The magnetic properties have been studied in detail to discuss the physical mechanism of large MCE in RT X compounds. Particularly, some RT X compounds such as Er Fe Si,Ho Cu Si, Ho Cu Al exhibit large reversible MCE under low magnetic field change, which suggests that these compounds could be promising materials for magnetic refrigeration in a low temperature range.展开更多
With the intention to explore excellent magnetocaloric materials, the intermetallic compound GdPd was synthesized by arc melting and heat treatment. The microstructure, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the in...With the intention to explore excellent magnetocaloric materials, the intermetallic compound GdPd was synthesized by arc melting and heat treatment. The microstructure, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the intermetallic compound of GdPd were investigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and the physical property measurement system(PPMS). A large reversible magnetocaloric effect is observed in GdPd accompanied by a second order magnetic phase transition from paramagnetism to ferromagnetism at ~39 K. The paramagnetic Curie temperature(θp) and the effective magnetic moment(μ(eff))are determined to be 34.7 K and 8.12 μB/Gd,respectively. The maximum entropy change(|△SM(Max)|) and the relative cooling power(RCP) under a field change of 5 T are estimated to be 20.14 J/(kg·K) and 433 J/kg, respectively. The giant reversible magnetocaloric effects(both the large△SM and the high RCP) together with the absence of thermal and field hysteresis make the GdPd compound an attractive candidate for low-temperature magnetic refrigeration.展开更多
In this article, our recent progress concerning the effects of atomic substitution, magnetic field, and temperature on the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the LaFe13-xAlx compounds are reviewed. With an incr...In this article, our recent progress concerning the effects of atomic substitution, magnetic field, and temperature on the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the LaFe13-xAlx compounds are reviewed. With an increase of the aluminum content, the compounds exhibit successively an antiferromagnetic (AFM) state, a ferromagnetic (FM) state, and a mictomagnetic state. Furthermore, the AFM coupling of LaFe13 -xAlx can be converted to an FM one by substituting Si for A1, Co for Fe, and magnetic rare-earth R for La, or introducing interstitial C or H atoms. However, low doping levels lead to FM clusters embedded in an AFM matrix, and the resultant compounds can undergo, under appropriate applied fields, first an AFM-FM and then an FM-AFM phase transition while heated, with significant magnetic relaxation in the vicinity of the transition temperature. The Curie temperature of LaFe13-xAlx can be shifted to room temperature by choosing appropriate contents of Co, C, or H, and a strong magnetocaloric effect can be obtained around the transition temperature. For example, for the LaFel 1.5All.5Co.2Hl.o compound, the maximal entropy change reaches 13.8 J.kg-1.K-1 for a field change of 0-5 T, occurring around room temperature. It is 42% higher than that of Gd, and therefore, this compound is a promising room-temperature magnetic refrigerant.展开更多
Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects of La1-xRxFe11.5Si1.5 (R=Pr, (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5); R = Ce and Nd, (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3)) compounds are investigated. Partially replacing La with R = Ce, Pr and Nd in La1-xRxFe...Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects of La1-xRxFe11.5Si1.5 (R=Pr, (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5); R = Ce and Nd, (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3)) compounds are investigated. Partially replacing La with R = Ce, Pr and Nd in La1-xRxFe11.5Si1.5 leads to a reduction in Curie temperature due to the lattice contraction. The substitution of R for La causes an enhancement in field-induced itinerant electron metamagnetic transition, which leads to a remarkable increase in magnetic entropy change ASm and also in hysteresis loss. However, a high effective refrigerant capacity RCeff is still maintained in La1-xRxFe11.5Si1.5. In the present samples, a large △Sm and a high RCeff have been achieved simultaneously.展开更多
The Curie temperatures(T_(C))of La_(0.7)Ce_(0.3)Fe_(13-x-y)Mn_(x)Si_(y)compounds that are hydrogenated to saturation are raised to near room temperature.The age stability was inves-tigated for the fully hydrogenated L...The Curie temperatures(T_(C))of La_(0.7)Ce_(0.3)Fe_(13-x-y)Mn_(x)Si_(y)compounds that are hydrogenated to saturation are raised to near room temperature.The age stability was inves-tigated for the fully hydrogenated La_(0.7)Ce_(0.3)Fe_(11.5-x)Mn_(x)Si_(1.5) compounds.This result indicates that the H content will slowly decrease in the hydrides,leading to a decrease in T_(C).However,no age splitting is observed after the hydrides are held at room temperature for two years,indicating the excellent age stability of the hydrides.Further structural analysis by neutron diffrac-tion shows that Mn atoms preferentially substitute Fe in the 96i sites.The T_(C)of La_(0.7)Ce_(0.3)Fe_(11.55-y)Mn_(y)Si_(1.45)hydrides can be adjusted to the desired working temperature by regulating Mn content based on the linear relationship between T_(C)and Mn content.Moreover,the La_(0.7)Ce_(0.3)Fe_(11.55-y)Mn_(y)Si_(1.45)hydrides exhibit a giant magnetic entropy change of 15 J·kg^(-1)·K^(-1) under a low magneticfield change of 0-1 T.As a result,the giant magnetocaloric effect,linearly adjustable T_(C),and excel-lent age stability make the La_(0.7)Ce_(0.3)Fe_(11.55-y)Mn_(y)Si_(1.45)hydrides be one of the ideal candidates for room temperature magnetic refrigerants.展开更多
In perovskite EuTiO_(3),the magnetic characteristics and magnetocaloric effect(MCE) can be flexibly regulated by converting the magnetism from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic.In the present work,a series of Eu(Ti,N...In perovskite EuTiO_(3),the magnetic characteristics and magnetocaloric effect(MCE) can be flexibly regulated by converting the magnetism from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic.In the present work,a series of Eu(Ti,Nb,Mn)O_(3) compounds,abbreviated as ETNMO for convenience of description,was fabricated and their crystallography,magnetism together with cryogenic magnetocaloric effects were systematically investigated.The crystallographic results demonstrate the cubic perovskite structure for all the compounds,with the space group of Pm3m.Two magnetic phase transitions are observed in these second-order phase transition(SOPT) materials.The joint substitution of elements Mn and Nb can considerably manipulate the magnetic phase transition process and magnetocaloric performance of the ETNMO compounds.As the Mn content increases,gradually widened-ΔS_(M)-T curves are obtained,and two peaks with a broad shoulder are observed in the-ΔS_(M)-T curves for Δμ_(0)H≤0-1 T.Under a field change of 0-5 T,the values of maximum magnetic entropy change(-ΔS_(M)^(max)) and refrigeration capacity(RC) are evaluated to be 34.7 J/(kg·K) and 364.9 J/kg for EuTi_(0.8625)Nb_(0.0625)Mn_(0.075)O_(3), 27.8 J/(kg·K) and367.6 J/kg for EuTi_(0.8375)Nb_(0.0625)Mn_(0.1)O_(3),23.2 J/(kg·K) and 369.2 J/kg for EuTi_(0.8125)Nb_(0.0625)Mn_(0.125)O_(3),17.1 J/(kg·K) and 357.6 J/kg for EuTi_(0.7875)Nb_(0.0625)Mn_(0.15)O_(3),respectively.The co nsiderable MCE parameters make the ETNMO compounds potential candidates for cryogenic magnetic refrigeration.展开更多
Rare earth high-entropy alloys(RE-HEAs)exhibit great potential to be applied as refrigerants due to their good comprehensive magnetocaloric properties.In this work,octary GdTbDyHoErTmCoAl and GdTbDyHoErTmCoNi RE-HEAs ...Rare earth high-entropy alloys(RE-HEAs)exhibit great potential to be applied as refrigerants due to their good comprehensive magnetocaloric properties.In this work,octary GdTbDyHoErTmCoAl and GdTbDyHoErTmCoNi RE-HEAs with amorphous/nanocrystalline structure exhibiting comparable magnetocaloric effect were synthesized.Both RE-HEAs show a second-order magnetic phase transition in the temperature range of hydrogen liquefaction.Due to the complex magnetic interactions,a spin glasslike behavior at low temperatures is observed in the RE-HEAs.A superior magnetocaloric effect is obtained in the nanocrystalline GdTbDyHoErTmCoNi high-entropy alloy that is multiphase attributed to a stronger magnetic exchange interaction when compared with the other that exhibits single amorphous structure.Despite heterogeneous microstructure,homogeneous chemical distributions are observed in the partially crystallized high-entropy alloy.In addition,the magnetocaloric effect and magnetic transition behavior of rare earth medium-and high-entropy alloys,including the RE-HEAs in this study,are summarized and discussed.The results in this work provide a helpful guide for the design of RE-HEAs for hydrogen liquefaction applications with excellent magnetocaloric effects.展开更多
In this paper, we review the magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects(MCE) of binary R–T(R = Pr, Gd, Tb,Dy, Ho, Er, Tm; T = Ga, Ni, Co, Cu) intermetallic compounds(including RGa series, RNi series, R_(12...In this paper, we review the magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects(MCE) of binary R–T(R = Pr, Gd, Tb,Dy, Ho, Er, Tm; T = Ga, Ni, Co, Cu) intermetallic compounds(including RGa series, RNi series, R_(12)Co_7 series, R_3 Co series and RCu_2series), which have been investigated in detail in the past several years. The R–T compounds are studied by means of magnetic measurements, heat capacity measurements, magnetoresistance measurements and neutron powder diffraction measurements. The R–T compounds show complex magnetic transitions and interesting magnetic properties.The types of magnetic transitions are investigated and confirmed in detail by multiple approaches. Especially, most of the R–T compounds undergo more than one magnetic transition, which has significant impact on the magnetocaloric effect of R–T compounds. The MCE of R–T compounds are calculated by different ways and the special shapes of MCE peaks for different compounds are investigated and discussed in detail. To improve the MCE performance of R–T compounds,atoms with large spin(S) and atoms with large total angular momentum(J) are introduced to substitute the related rare earth atoms. With the atom substitution, the maximum of magnetic entropy change(?SM), refrigerant temperature width(Twidth)or refrigerant capacity(RC) is enlarged for some R–T compounds. In the low temperature range, binary R–T(R = Pr, Gd,Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm; T = Ga, Ni, Co, Cu) intermetallic compounds(including RGa series, RNi series,R_(12)Co_7 series, R_3 Co series and RCu_2series) show excellent performance of MCE, indicating the potential application for gas liquefaction in the future.展开更多
A large reversible magnetocaloric effect accompanied by a second order magnetic phase transition from PM to FM is observed in the Ho Pd compound. Under the magnetic field change of 0–5 T, the magnetic entropy change-...A large reversible magnetocaloric effect accompanied by a second order magnetic phase transition from PM to FM is observed in the Ho Pd compound. Under the magnetic field change of 0–5 T, the magnetic entropy change-ΔS max M and the refrigerant capacity RC for the compound are evaluated to be 20 J/(kg·K) and 342 J/kg, respectively. In particular,large-ΔS max M(11.3 J/(kg·K)) and RC(142 J/kg) are achieved under a low magnetic field change of 0–2 T with no thermal hysteresis and magnetic hysteresis loss. The large reversible magnetocaloric effect(both the large-ΔS M and the high RC)indicates that Ho Pd is a promising material for magnetic refrigeration at low temperature.展开更多
The structural and magnetocaloric properties of Mn1.35Fe0.65P1-xSix compounds are investigated.The Sisubstituted compounds,Mn1.35Fe0.65P1-xSix with x = 0.52,0.54,0.55,0.56,and 0.57,are prepared by high-energy ball mil...The structural and magnetocaloric properties of Mn1.35Fe0.65P1-xSix compounds are investigated.The Sisubstituted compounds,Mn1.35Fe0.65P1-xSix with x = 0.52,0.54,0.55,0.56,and 0.57,are prepared by high-energy ball milling and the solid-state reaction.The X-ray diffraction shows that the compounds crystallize into the Fe 2 P-type hexagonal structure with space group P■2m.The magnetic measurements show that the Curie temperature of the compound increases from 253 K for x = 0.52 to 296 K for x = 0.56.The isothermal magnetic-entropy change of the Mn1.35Fe0.65P1-xSix compound decreases with the Si content increasing.The maximal value of the magnetic-entropy change is about 7.0 J/kg·K in the Mn1.35Fe0.65P0.48Si0.52 compound with a field change of 1.5 T.The compound quenched in water possesses a larger magnetic entropy change and a smaller thermal hysteresis than the non-quenched samples.The thermal hysteresis of the compound is less than 3.5 K.The maximum adiabatic temperature change is about 1.4 K in the Mn1.35Fe0.65P0.45Si0.55 compound with a field change of 1.48 T.展开更多
The interdependences of preparation conditions, magnetic and crystal structures, and magnetocaloric effects (MCE) of the MnFePGe-based compounds are reviewed. Based upon those findings, a new method for the evaluati...The interdependences of preparation conditions, magnetic and crystal structures, and magnetocaloric effects (MCE) of the MnFePGe-based compounds are reviewed. Based upon those findings, a new method for the evaluation of the MCE in these compounds, based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), is proposed. The MnFePGe-based compounds are a group of magnetic refrigerants with giant magnetocaloric effect (GMCE), and as such, have drawn tremendous attention, especially due to their many advantages for practical applications. Structural evolution and phase transformation in the compounds as functions of temperature, pressure, and magnetic field are reported. Influences of preparation conditions upon the homogeneity of the compounds' chemical composition and microstructure, both of which play a key role in the MCE and thermal hysteresis of the compounds, are introduced. Lastly, the origin of the "virgin effect" in the MnFePGe- based compounds is discussed.展开更多
The magnetic properties and magnetic phase transition critical behavior of Gd_(3)Ga_5O_(12)single crystals subjected to high-pressure heat treatment were investigated.The results show that high-pressure heat treatment...The magnetic properties and magnetic phase transition critical behavior of Gd_(3)Ga_5O_(12)single crystals subjected to high-pressure heat treatment were investigated.The results show that high-pressure heat treatment reduces the Curie temperature and magnetization of the sample.Under a magnetic field change of 5 T,the maximum isothermal magnetic entropy of the sample is approximately 19.73 J/(kg·K).High-pressure heat treatment increases the phase transition temperature range and leads to an increase in the magnetic refrigeration power.Both Gd_(3)Ga_(5)O_(12)single crystals and the high-pressure heat-treated sample undergo a second-order phase transition.The critical behavior of the samples aligns with the mean field model acquired via critical model fitting.This indicates that the samples exhibit long-range exchange interactions in the system near the Curie temperature.Thus,this material can be used as a magnetic refrigerant for low-temperature applications.展开更多
We investigate the structural,magnetic,and magnetocaloric effects(MCE)of Tm_(1-x)Er_(x)CuAl(x=0.25,0.5,and 0.75)compounds.The compounds undergo a second-order phase transition originating from the ferromagnetic to par...We investigate the structural,magnetic,and magnetocaloric effects(MCE)of Tm_(1-x)Er_(x)CuAl(x=0.25,0.5,and 0.75)compounds.The compounds undergo a second-order phase transition originating from the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition around 3.2 K,5 K,and 6 K,respectively.The maximum magnetic entropy changes(-△S_(M)^(max))of Tm_(1-x)Er_(x)CuAl(x=0.25,0.5,and 0.75)are 17.1 J·kg^(-1)·K^(-1),18.1 J·kg^(-1)·K^(-1),and 17.5 J·kg^(-1)·K^(-1)under the magnetic field in the range of 0-2 T,with the corresponding refrigerant capacity(RC)values of 131 J·kg^(-1),136 J·kg^(-1),and 126 J·kg^(-1),respectively.The increase of-△S_(M)^(max)for Tm0.5Er0.5CuAl may be relevant to the change of magnetic moment distribution of Er and stress coming from element substitution.This work provides several compounds that can enrich the family of giant MCE materials in the cryogenic region.展开更多
HoBi single crystal and polycrystalline compounds with Na Cl-type structure are successfully obtained,and their magnetic and magnetocaloric properties are studied in detail.With temperature increasing,Ho Bi compound u...HoBi single crystal and polycrystalline compounds with Na Cl-type structure are successfully obtained,and their magnetic and magnetocaloric properties are studied in detail.With temperature increasing,Ho Bi compound undergoes two magnetic transitions at 3.7 K and 6 K,respectively.The transition temperature at 6 K is recognized as an antiferromagneticto-paramagnetic(AFM–PM)transition,which belongs to the first-order magnetic phase transition(FOMT).It is interesting that the Ho Bi compound with FOMT exhibits good thermal and magnetic reversibility.Furthermore,a large inverse and normal magnetocaloric effect(MCE)is found in Ho Bi single crystal in the H||[100]direction,and the positive?SMpeak reaches 13.1 J/kg·K under a low field change of 2 T and the negative?S_(M)peak arrives at-18 J/kg·K under a field change of5 T.These excellent properties are expected to be applied to some magnetic refrigerators with special designs and functions.展开更多
Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects of Tb6Coi.67Si3 have been investigated by magnetization measurement. This compound is of a hexagonal Ce6Ni2Si3-type structure with a saturation magnetization of 187emu/g ...Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects of Tb6Coi.67Si3 have been investigated by magnetization measurement. This compound is of a hexagonal Ce6Ni2Si3-type structure with a saturation magnetization of 187emu/g at 5 K and a reversible second-order magnetic transition at Curie temperature TC = 186K. A magnetic entropy change △S = 7J·kg^-1·K^-1 is observed for a magnetic field change from 0 to 5T. A large value of refrigerant capacity (RC) is found to be 330 J/kg for fields ranging from 0 to ST. The large RC, the reversible magnetization around Tc and the easy fabrication make the Tb6Co1.67Si3 compound a suitable candidate for magnetic refrigerants in a corresponding temperature range.展开更多
The structural and magnetocaloric properties of Mnl.35Feo.65P1-xSix compounds are investigated. The Si- substituted compounds, Mn1.35Fe0.65Pl-xSix with x = 0.52, 0.54, 0.55, 0.56, and 0.57, are prepared by high-energy...The structural and magnetocaloric properties of Mnl.35Feo.65P1-xSix compounds are investigated. The Si- substituted compounds, Mn1.35Fe0.65Pl-xSix with x = 0.52, 0.54, 0.55, 0.56, and 0.57, are prepared by high-energy ball milling and the solid-state reaction. The X-ray diffraction shows that the compounds crystallize into the Fe2P-type hexagonal structure with space group P62m. The magnetic measurements show that the Curie temperature of the compound increases from 253 K for x = 0.52 to 296 K for x= 0.56. The isothermal magnetic-entropy change of the Mnl.35Fe0.65Pl-xSix compound decreases with the Si content increasing. The maximal value of the magnetic-entropy change is about 7.0 J/kg.K in the Mnl.35Feo.65Po.48Sio.52 compound with a field change of 1.5 T. The compound quenched in water possesses a larger magnetic entropy change and a smaller thermal hysteresis than the non-quenched samples. The thermal hysteresis of the compound is less than 3.5 K. The maximum adiabatic temperature change is about 1.4 K in the Mnl.35Fe0.65P0.45Si0.55 compound with a field change of 1.48 T.展开更多
Magnetic refrigeration(MR)technology is regarded as an ideal solution for cryogenic applications,relying on magnetocaloric materials which provide necessary chilling effect.A series of polycrystalline Tm_(1-x)Er_(x)Ni...Magnetic refrigeration(MR)technology is regarded as an ideal solution for cryogenic applications,relying on magnetocaloric materials which provide necessary chilling effect.A series of polycrystalline Tm_(1-x)Er_(x)Ni_(2)Si_(2)(x=0.2,0.4)compounds was synthesized,and their magnetic properties,magnetic phase transition together with magnetocaloric effect(MCE)were studied.The Tm_(1-x)Er_(x)Ni_(2)Si_(2)(x=0.2,0.4)compounds display a field-induced metamagnetic transition from antiferromagnetic(AFM)to ferromagnetism(FM)in excess of 0.2 T,respectively.Meanwhile,the AFM ground state is unstable.Under the field change of 0-2 T,the values of maximal magnetic entropy change(-ΔS_(M)^(max))and refrigerant capacity(RC)for Tm_(0.8)Er_(0.2)Ni_(2)Si_(2)compound are 17.9 J/(kg·K)and 83.5 J/kg,respectively.The large reversible MCE under low magnetic fields(≤2 T)indicates that Tm_(0.8)Er_(0.2)Ni_(2)Si_(2)compound can serve as potential candidate materials for cryogenic magnetic refrigeration.展开更多
A series of the amorphous Gd75-55A125-5Fe0-40 alloy ribbons were prepared by melt spinning. The structure, magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of these alloys were investigated. The prepared samples ...A series of the amorphous Gd75-55A125-5Fe0-40 alloy ribbons were prepared by melt spinning. The structure, magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of these alloys were investigated. The prepared samples have shown the characteristics of a second-order phase transition with zero hysteresis loss and the Tc can be tuned by changing the Fe contents. For the different compositions, the magnetic entropy change (-△Sm) for a field change of 0-5 T reached a maximum value of 7.14 J kg 1 K1 in the Gd70A120Fel0 alloy near its Curie temperature (To) of 149 K. The non-linear composition dependence of (- △ Sin) could be caused by the competitions between Fe-Fe, Fe-Gd and Gd-Gd interactions. The refrigeration capacity (RC) values of these al- loys are about 532-780 J/kg under a magnetic field change of 0-5 T. The results indicate that amorphous GdFeA1 alloys can be considered as ideal candidates for a magnetic refrigerant in the temperature range of 104-222 K.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (50572013)
文摘We reported the magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects(MCE) of(La0.8Ho0.2)2/3Ca1/3MnO3 and(La0.5Ho0.5)2/3Ca1/3MnO3 nanoparticles by sol-gel technique.With this method,we were able to obtain the samples with particle diameters ranging from 50 to 200 nm.In the(La1-xHox)2/3Ca1/3MnO3 compound,an external magnetic field induced a magnetic transition from an paramagnetic phase to a ferromagnetic phase above Ts=105-135 K,leading to magnetocaloric effects.The maximum value of ΔSM was 1.19 J/(kg·K) at 100 K and 2.03 J/(kg·K) at 152 K for a magnetic field change of 5 T.Because both samples had large relative cooling power(RCP) and wide δTFWHM,the study on systems with the(La1-xHox)2/3Ca1/3MnO3-related magnetic transitions may open an important field in searching good magnetic materials.
基金supported by Science and Technology Research Project for Education Department of Jiangxi Province, China (Grant No. GJJ218509)。
文摘We investigate the structure, magnetic properties, magnetic phase transitions and magnetocaloric effects(MCEs) of Er5Si3Bx(x=0.3,0.6) compounds. The Er5Si3Bx(x = 0.3, 0.6) compounds crystalize in a Mn5Si3type hexagonal structure(space group: P63/cm) and exhibit a successive complicated magnetic phase transition. The extensive magnetic phase transitions contribute to the broad temperature range of MCEs exhibiting in Er_(5)Si_(3)B_(x)(x=0.3,0.6) compounds, with maximum magnetic entropy change(-ΔSM_(max)) and refrigeration capacity of 10.2 J·kg^(-1)·K^(-1), 356.3 J/kg and 11.5 J·kg^(-1)·K^(-1),393.3 J/kg under varying magnetic fields 0–5 T, respectively. Remarkably, the δTFWHMvalues(the temperature range corresponding to 1/2×|-ΔSM_(max)|) of Er5Si3Bx(x=0.3,0.6) compounds were up to 41.8 K and 39.6 K, respectively. Thus, the present work provides a potential magnetic refrigeration material with a broad temperature range MCEs for applications in cryogenic magnetic refrigerators.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.5137102611274357+1 种基金and 51327806)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant Nos.FRF-TP-14-011A2 and FRF-TP-15-002A3)
文摘The magnetocaloric effect(MCE) of RT Si and RT Al systems with R = Gd–Tm, T = Fe–Cu and Pd, which have been widely investigated in recent years, is reviewed. It is found that these RT X compounds exhibit various crystal structures and magnetic properties, which then result in different MCE. Large MCE has been observed not only in the typical ferromagnetic materials but also in the antiferromagnetic materials. The magnetic properties have been studied in detail to discuss the physical mechanism of large MCE in RT X compounds. Particularly, some RT X compounds such as Er Fe Si,Ho Cu Si, Ho Cu Al exhibit large reversible MCE under low magnetic field change, which suggests that these compounds could be promising materials for magnetic refrigeration in a low temperature range.
基金Project supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(2014CB643703)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFB0700901)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51261004,51461012)
文摘With the intention to explore excellent magnetocaloric materials, the intermetallic compound GdPd was synthesized by arc melting and heat treatment. The microstructure, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the intermetallic compound of GdPd were investigated by X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and the physical property measurement system(PPMS). A large reversible magnetocaloric effect is observed in GdPd accompanied by a second order magnetic phase transition from paramagnetism to ferromagnetism at ~39 K. The paramagnetic Curie temperature(θp) and the effective magnetic moment(μ(eff))are determined to be 34.7 K and 8.12 μB/Gd,respectively. The maximum entropy change(|△SM(Max)|) and the relative cooling power(RCP) under a field change of 5 T are estimated to be 20.14 J/(kg·K) and 433 J/kg, respectively. The giant reversible magnetocaloric effects(both the large△SM and the high RCP) together with the absence of thermal and field hysteresis make the GdPd compound an attractive candidate for low-temperature magnetic refrigeration.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of Chinathe Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences+1 种基金the National Basic Research Program of Chinathe National High Technology Research and Development Program of China
文摘In this article, our recent progress concerning the effects of atomic substitution, magnetic field, and temperature on the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the LaFe13-xAlx compounds are reviewed. With an increase of the aluminum content, the compounds exhibit successively an antiferromagnetic (AFM) state, a ferromagnetic (FM) state, and a mictomagnetic state. Furthermore, the AFM coupling of LaFe13 -xAlx can be converted to an FM one by substituting Si for A1, Co for Fe, and magnetic rare-earth R for La, or introducing interstitial C or H atoms. However, low doping levels lead to FM clusters embedded in an AFM matrix, and the resultant compounds can undergo, under appropriate applied fields, first an AFM-FM and then an FM-AFM phase transition while heated, with significant magnetic relaxation in the vicinity of the transition temperature. The Curie temperature of LaFe13-xAlx can be shifted to room temperature by choosing appropriate contents of Co, C, or H, and a strong magnetocaloric effect can be obtained around the transition temperature. For example, for the LaFel 1.5All.5Co.2Hl.o compound, the maximal entropy change reaches 13.8 J.kg-1.K-1 for a field change of 0-5 T, occurring around room temperature. It is 42% higher than that of Gd, and therefore, this compound is a promising room-temperature magnetic refrigerant.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No 2006CB601101)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos 50731007 and 50571112)the Knowledge Innovation Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects of La1-xRxFe11.5Si1.5 (R=Pr, (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5); R = Ce and Nd, (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3)) compounds are investigated. Partially replacing La with R = Ce, Pr and Nd in La1-xRxFe11.5Si1.5 leads to a reduction in Curie temperature due to the lattice contraction. The substitution of R for La causes an enhancement in field-induced itinerant electron metamagnetic transition, which leads to a remarkable increase in magnetic entropy change ASm and also in hysteresis loss. However, a high effective refrigerant capacity RCeff is still maintained in La1-xRxFe11.5Si1.5. In the present samples, a large △Sm and a high RCeff have been achieved simultaneously.
基金financially supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2017YFB0702704)the National Science Foundation of China (No. 51571018)。
文摘The Curie temperatures(T_(C))of La_(0.7)Ce_(0.3)Fe_(13-x-y)Mn_(x)Si_(y)compounds that are hydrogenated to saturation are raised to near room temperature.The age stability was inves-tigated for the fully hydrogenated La_(0.7)Ce_(0.3)Fe_(11.5-x)Mn_(x)Si_(1.5) compounds.This result indicates that the H content will slowly decrease in the hydrides,leading to a decrease in T_(C).However,no age splitting is observed after the hydrides are held at room temperature for two years,indicating the excellent age stability of the hydrides.Further structural analysis by neutron diffrac-tion shows that Mn atoms preferentially substitute Fe in the 96i sites.The T_(C)of La_(0.7)Ce_(0.3)Fe_(11.55-y)Mn_(y)Si_(1.45)hydrides can be adjusted to the desired working temperature by regulating Mn content based on the linear relationship between T_(C)and Mn content.Moreover,the La_(0.7)Ce_(0.3)Fe_(11.55-y)Mn_(y)Si_(1.45)hydrides exhibit a giant magnetic entropy change of 15 J·kg^(-1)·K^(-1) under a low magneticfield change of 0-1 T.As a result,the giant magnetocaloric effect,linearly adjustable T_(C),and excel-lent age stability make the La_(0.7)Ce_(0.3)Fe_(11.55-y)Mn_(y)Si_(1.45)hydrides be one of the ideal candidates for room temperature magnetic refrigerants.
基金Research Projects of Ganjiang Innovation Academy,Chinese Academy of Sciences (No.E055B002) for providing financial support。
文摘In perovskite EuTiO_(3),the magnetic characteristics and magnetocaloric effect(MCE) can be flexibly regulated by converting the magnetism from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic.In the present work,a series of Eu(Ti,Nb,Mn)O_(3) compounds,abbreviated as ETNMO for convenience of description,was fabricated and their crystallography,magnetism together with cryogenic magnetocaloric effects were systematically investigated.The crystallographic results demonstrate the cubic perovskite structure for all the compounds,with the space group of Pm3m.Two magnetic phase transitions are observed in these second-order phase transition(SOPT) materials.The joint substitution of elements Mn and Nb can considerably manipulate the magnetic phase transition process and magnetocaloric performance of the ETNMO compounds.As the Mn content increases,gradually widened-ΔS_(M)-T curves are obtained,and two peaks with a broad shoulder are observed in the-ΔS_(M)-T curves for Δμ_(0)H≤0-1 T.Under a field change of 0-5 T,the values of maximum magnetic entropy change(-ΔS_(M)^(max)) and refrigeration capacity(RC) are evaluated to be 34.7 J/(kg·K) and 364.9 J/kg for EuTi_(0.8625)Nb_(0.0625)Mn_(0.075)O_(3), 27.8 J/(kg·K) and367.6 J/kg for EuTi_(0.8375)Nb_(0.0625)Mn_(0.1)O_(3),23.2 J/(kg·K) and 369.2 J/kg for EuTi_(0.8125)Nb_(0.0625)Mn_(0.125)O_(3),17.1 J/(kg·K) and 357.6 J/kg for EuTi_(0.7875)Nb_(0.0625)Mn_(0.15)O_(3),respectively.The co nsiderable MCE parameters make the ETNMO compounds potential candidates for cryogenic magnetic refrigeration.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52101193,51975183)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2022M711002)+2 种基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(B220202036)the Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK20201316)Jiangsu Planned Projects for Postdoctoral Research Funds(2021K646C)。
文摘Rare earth high-entropy alloys(RE-HEAs)exhibit great potential to be applied as refrigerants due to their good comprehensive magnetocaloric properties.In this work,octary GdTbDyHoErTmCoAl and GdTbDyHoErTmCoNi RE-HEAs with amorphous/nanocrystalline structure exhibiting comparable magnetocaloric effect were synthesized.Both RE-HEAs show a second-order magnetic phase transition in the temperature range of hydrogen liquefaction.Due to the complex magnetic interactions,a spin glasslike behavior at low temperatures is observed in the RE-HEAs.A superior magnetocaloric effect is obtained in the nanocrystalline GdTbDyHoErTmCoNi high-entropy alloy that is multiphase attributed to a stronger magnetic exchange interaction when compared with the other that exhibits single amorphous structure.Despite heterogeneous microstructure,homogeneous chemical distributions are observed in the partially crystallized high-entropy alloy.In addition,the magnetocaloric effect and magnetic transition behavior of rare earth medium-and high-entropy alloys,including the RE-HEAs in this study,are summarized and discussed.The results in this work provide a helpful guide for the design of RE-HEAs for hydrogen liquefaction applications with excellent magnetocaloric effects.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11274357,51501005,51590880,and 11674008)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,China(Grant No.FRF-TP-15-010A1)+1 种基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2016M591071)the Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.KJZD-EW-M05)
文摘In this paper, we review the magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects(MCE) of binary R–T(R = Pr, Gd, Tb,Dy, Ho, Er, Tm; T = Ga, Ni, Co, Cu) intermetallic compounds(including RGa series, RNi series, R_(12)Co_7 series, R_3 Co series and RCu_2series), which have been investigated in detail in the past several years. The R–T compounds are studied by means of magnetic measurements, heat capacity measurements, magnetoresistance measurements and neutron powder diffraction measurements. The R–T compounds show complex magnetic transitions and interesting magnetic properties.The types of magnetic transitions are investigated and confirmed in detail by multiple approaches. Especially, most of the R–T compounds undergo more than one magnetic transition, which has significant impact on the magnetocaloric effect of R–T compounds. The MCE of R–T compounds are calculated by different ways and the special shapes of MCE peaks for different compounds are investigated and discussed in detail. To improve the MCE performance of R–T compounds,atoms with large spin(S) and atoms with large total angular momentum(J) are introduced to substitute the related rare earth atoms. With the atom substitution, the maximum of magnetic entropy change(?SM), refrigerant temperature width(Twidth)or refrigerant capacity(RC) is enlarged for some R–T compounds. In the low temperature range, binary R–T(R = Pr, Gd,Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm; T = Ga, Ni, Co, Cu) intermetallic compounds(including RGa series, RNi series,R_(12)Co_7 series, R_3 Co series and RCu_2series) show excellent performance of MCE, indicating the potential application for gas liquefaction in the future.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51322605,11104337,51271192,and 11274357)the Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘A large reversible magnetocaloric effect accompanied by a second order magnetic phase transition from PM to FM is observed in the Ho Pd compound. Under the magnetic field change of 0–5 T, the magnetic entropy change-ΔS max M and the refrigerant capacity RC for the compound are evaluated to be 20 J/(kg·K) and 342 J/kg, respectively. In particular,large-ΔS max M(11.3 J/(kg·K)) and RC(142 J/kg) are achieved under a low magnetic field change of 0–2 T with no thermal hysteresis and magnetic hysteresis loss. The large reversible magnetocaloric effect(both the large-ΔS M and the high RC)indicates that Ho Pd is a promising material for magnetic refrigeration at low temperature.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50961010)the Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia,China (Grant No. 20080404Zd01)
文摘The structural and magnetocaloric properties of Mn1.35Fe0.65P1-xSix compounds are investigated.The Sisubstituted compounds,Mn1.35Fe0.65P1-xSix with x = 0.52,0.54,0.55,0.56,and 0.57,are prepared by high-energy ball milling and the solid-state reaction.The X-ray diffraction shows that the compounds crystallize into the Fe 2 P-type hexagonal structure with space group P■2m.The magnetic measurements show that the Curie temperature of the compound increases from 253 K for x = 0.52 to 296 K for x = 0.56.The isothermal magnetic-entropy change of the Mn1.35Fe0.65P1-xSix compound decreases with the Si content increasing.The maximal value of the magnetic-entropy change is about 7.0 J/kg·K in the Mn1.35Fe0.65P0.48Si0.52 compound with a field change of 1.5 T.The compound quenched in water possesses a larger magnetic entropy change and a smaller thermal hysteresis than the non-quenched samples.The thermal hysteresis of the compound is less than 3.5 K.The maximum adiabatic temperature change is about 1.4 K in the Mn1.35Fe0.65P0.45Si0.55 compound with a field change of 1.48 T.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.51171003,51071007,and 51401002)
文摘The interdependences of preparation conditions, magnetic and crystal structures, and magnetocaloric effects (MCE) of the MnFePGe-based compounds are reviewed. Based upon those findings, a new method for the evaluation of the MCE in these compounds, based on differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), is proposed. The MnFePGe-based compounds are a group of magnetic refrigerants with giant magnetocaloric effect (GMCE), and as such, have drawn tremendous attention, especially due to their many advantages for practical applications. Structural evolution and phase transformation in the compounds as functions of temperature, pressure, and magnetic field are reported. Influences of preparation conditions upon the homogeneity of the compounds' chemical composition and microstructure, both of which play a key role in the MCE and thermal hysteresis of the compounds, are introduced. Lastly, the origin of the "virgin effect" in the MnFePGe- based compounds is discussed.
基金Project supported by the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation(AD20297001,AD20297014)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51562032)。
文摘The magnetic properties and magnetic phase transition critical behavior of Gd_(3)Ga_5O_(12)single crystals subjected to high-pressure heat treatment were investigated.The results show that high-pressure heat treatment reduces the Curie temperature and magnetization of the sample.Under a magnetic field change of 5 T,the maximum isothermal magnetic entropy of the sample is approximately 19.73 J/(kg·K).High-pressure heat treatment increases the phase transition temperature range and leads to an increase in the magnetic refrigeration power.Both Gd_(3)Ga_(5)O_(12)single crystals and the high-pressure heat-treated sample undergo a second-order phase transition.The critical behavior of the samples aligns with the mean field model acquired via critical model fitting.This indicates that the samples exhibit long-range exchange interactions in the system near the Curie temperature.Thus,this material can be used as a magnetic refrigerant for low-temperature applications.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52171195,and 52171054)the National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars(Grant No.51925605)the Scientific Instrument Developing Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.YJKYYQ20200042)
文摘We investigate the structural,magnetic,and magnetocaloric effects(MCE)of Tm_(1-x)Er_(x)CuAl(x=0.25,0.5,and 0.75)compounds.The compounds undergo a second-order phase transition originating from the ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition around 3.2 K,5 K,and 6 K,respectively.The maximum magnetic entropy changes(-△S_(M)^(max))of Tm_(1-x)Er_(x)CuAl(x=0.25,0.5,and 0.75)are 17.1 J·kg^(-1)·K^(-1),18.1 J·kg^(-1)·K^(-1),and 17.5 J·kg^(-1)·K^(-1)under the magnetic field in the range of 0-2 T,with the corresponding refrigerant capacity(RC)values of 131 J·kg^(-1),136 J·kg^(-1),and 126 J·kg^(-1),respectively.The increase of-△S_(M)^(max)for Tm0.5Er0.5CuAl may be relevant to the change of magnetic moment distribution of Er and stress coming from element substitution.This work provides several compounds that can enrich the family of giant MCE materials in the cryogenic region.
基金the Scientific and Technological Innovation Programs of Higher Education Institutions in Shanxi Province,China(Grant No.2021L304)the Taiyuan University of Science and Technology Scientific Research Initial Funding,China(Grant Nos.20202022 and 20222002)+2 种基金the Funding for Outstanding Doctoral Research in Jin,China(Grant No.20212002)the Fund from the State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing,Wuhan University of Technology,China(Grant No.2022-KF-32)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.51901150)。
文摘HoBi single crystal and polycrystalline compounds with Na Cl-type structure are successfully obtained,and their magnetic and magnetocaloric properties are studied in detail.With temperature increasing,Ho Bi compound undergoes two magnetic transitions at 3.7 K and 6 K,respectively.The transition temperature at 6 K is recognized as an antiferromagneticto-paramagnetic(AFM–PM)transition,which belongs to the first-order magnetic phase transition(FOMT).It is interesting that the Ho Bi compound with FOMT exhibits good thermal and magnetic reversibility.Furthermore,a large inverse and normal magnetocaloric effect(MCE)is found in Ho Bi single crystal in the H||[100]direction,and the positive?SMpeak reaches 13.1 J/kg·K under a low field change of 2 T and the negative?S_(M)peak arrives at-18 J/kg·K under a field change of5 T.These excellent properties are expected to be applied to some magnetic refrigerators with special designs and functions.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos 50571112 and 50731007), the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No 2006CB601101) and the Basic Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant No KJCX2-YW-W02).
文摘Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects of Tb6Coi.67Si3 have been investigated by magnetization measurement. This compound is of a hexagonal Ce6Ni2Si3-type structure with a saturation magnetization of 187emu/g at 5 K and a reversible second-order magnetic transition at Curie temperature TC = 186K. A magnetic entropy change △S = 7J·kg^-1·K^-1 is observed for a magnetic field change from 0 to 5T. A large value of refrigerant capacity (RC) is found to be 330 J/kg for fields ranging from 0 to ST. The large RC, the reversible magnetization around Tc and the easy fabrication make the Tb6Co1.67Si3 compound a suitable candidate for magnetic refrigerants in a corresponding temperature range.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 50961010) and the Natural Science Foundation of Inner Mongolia, China (Grant No. 20080404Zd01).
文摘The structural and magnetocaloric properties of Mnl.35Feo.65P1-xSix compounds are investigated. The Si- substituted compounds, Mn1.35Fe0.65Pl-xSix with x = 0.52, 0.54, 0.55, 0.56, and 0.57, are prepared by high-energy ball milling and the solid-state reaction. The X-ray diffraction shows that the compounds crystallize into the Fe2P-type hexagonal structure with space group P62m. The magnetic measurements show that the Curie temperature of the compound increases from 253 K for x = 0.52 to 296 K for x= 0.56. The isothermal magnetic-entropy change of the Mnl.35Fe0.65Pl-xSix compound decreases with the Si content increasing. The maximal value of the magnetic-entropy change is about 7.0 J/kg.K in the Mnl.35Feo.65Po.48Sio.52 compound with a field change of 1.5 T. The compound quenched in water possesses a larger magnetic entropy change and a smaller thermal hysteresis than the non-quenched samples. The thermal hysteresis of the compound is less than 3.5 K. The maximum adiabatic temperature change is about 1.4 K in the Mnl.35Fe0.65P0.45Si0.55 compound with a field change of 1.48 T.
基金Project supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFB3501204)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(52171054)+1 种基金the National Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars(51925605)the National Science Foundation for Excellent Young Scholars(52222107)。
文摘Magnetic refrigeration(MR)technology is regarded as an ideal solution for cryogenic applications,relying on magnetocaloric materials which provide necessary chilling effect.A series of polycrystalline Tm_(1-x)Er_(x)Ni_(2)Si_(2)(x=0.2,0.4)compounds was synthesized,and their magnetic properties,magnetic phase transition together with magnetocaloric effect(MCE)were studied.The Tm_(1-x)Er_(x)Ni_(2)Si_(2)(x=0.2,0.4)compounds display a field-induced metamagnetic transition from antiferromagnetic(AFM)to ferromagnetism(FM)in excess of 0.2 T,respectively.Meanwhile,the AFM ground state is unstable.Under the field change of 0-2 T,the values of maximal magnetic entropy change(-ΔS_(M)^(max))and refrigerant capacity(RC)for Tm_(0.8)Er_(0.2)Ni_(2)Si_(2)compound are 17.9 J/(kg·K)and 83.5 J/kg,respectively.The large reversible MCE under low magnetic fields(≤2 T)indicates that Tm_(0.8)Er_(0.2)Ni_(2)Si_(2)compound can serve as potential candidate materials for cryogenic magnetic refrigeration.
基金supported by the Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Program (Grant Nos. 2010B050300008, 2007B010600043)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, South China University of Technology (Grant No. 2009ZM0291)
文摘A series of the amorphous Gd75-55A125-5Fe0-40 alloy ribbons were prepared by melt spinning. The structure, magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of these alloys were investigated. The prepared samples have shown the characteristics of a second-order phase transition with zero hysteresis loss and the Tc can be tuned by changing the Fe contents. For the different compositions, the magnetic entropy change (-△Sm) for a field change of 0-5 T reached a maximum value of 7.14 J kg 1 K1 in the Gd70A120Fel0 alloy near its Curie temperature (To) of 149 K. The non-linear composition dependence of (- △ Sin) could be caused by the competitions between Fe-Fe, Fe-Gd and Gd-Gd interactions. The refrigeration capacity (RC) values of these al- loys are about 532-780 J/kg under a magnetic field change of 0-5 T. The results indicate that amorphous GdFeA1 alloys can be considered as ideal candidates for a magnetic refrigerant in the temperature range of 104-222 K.