Date of Award
8-1-2015
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Physics
First Advisor
Ali, Naushad
Abstract
The magnetocaloric and thermomagnetic properties of the Ni1-xCrxMnGe1.05 (for x = 0, 0.035, 0.070, 0.105, 0.110, 0.115, and 0.120) system have been studied by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), resistivity and magnetization measurements. A change in crystal structure from orthorhombic to hexagonal was observed in the XRD data with an increase in chromium concentrations. The values of the cell parameters and volume of the unit cell for hexagonal phase were determined. It was found that the partial substitution of Cr for Ni in Ni1-xCrxMnGe1.05 results in a first order magnetostructural transition from antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic (FM) at TM of about132 K, 100 K, and 110 K for x= 0.105, 0.115, and 0.120, respectively. A FM to paramagnetic second order transition has been observed at TC around 200K. A magnetic entropy change of = 4.5 J/kg K, 5.6 J/Kg K, and 5.06 J/Kg K was observed in the vicinity of TC for x = 0.105, 0.115, and 0.120 respectively at ΔH = 5T. The values of the latent heat and corresponding total entropy changes have been determined from Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) measurements. Magnetoresistance values of about -5% were measured near TC for x =0.105. The maximum value of refrigeration capacity (RC) and relative cooling power (RCP) was found to be 155 J/Kg and 175 J/Kg respectively for x = 0.120. A concentration-dependent (T-x) phase diagram of transition temperatures has been constructed using the magnetic and DSC data. The structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of GdNi2Mnx system (for x = 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.5) have been studied by x-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements. A mixture of the Laves phase C15 and a phase with rhombohedral structure PuNi3- type (space group R m) was observed in the XRD data. A second order magnetic phase transition from ferromagnetic (FM) to paramagnetic (PM) was found, characterized by a long-range exchange interaction as predicted by mean field theory. The maximum value of magnetic entropy changes, -∆SM, near TC for ∆H = 5T, was found to be 3.1 J/KgK, 2.8 J/KgK, 2.9 J/KgK, and 2.5 J/Kg K for x = 0.8, 1.2, 1.4, and 1.5 respectively. In spite of the low values of ΔSM, the RC and RCP value was found to be 176 J/Kg and 220 J/Kg for the GdNi2Mn0.8 compound, respectively.
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