A Comparative Study of Magnetocaloric Properties Between Ni-Rich and Mn-Rich Ni–Mn–Sn Alloys

Abstract

Ni-rich and Mn-rich Ni–Mn–Sn Heusler alloys have been prepared and studied to find out their magnetocaloric properties. The martensitic transition temperature decreases for Ni-rich and increases for Mn-rich alloys with the increase of their respective rich element. The value of isothermal magnetic entropy change is almost double for Mn-rich alloys as compared with the Ni-rich alloys. The refrigerant capacity is also higher for the same alloy series. The origin of such enhancement in magnetocaloric potentials in Mn-rich alloys has been discussed in the context of ferro/antiferro correlations present between the intersite Mn atoms of these alloy families.