Date of Award
8-1-2014
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Physics
First Advisor
Ali, Naushad
Abstract
The magnetocaloric and thermomagnetic properties of the MnNiGe1-xAlx, Ni50Mn35(In1−xCrx)15 and (Mn1−xCrx)NiGe1.05 systems have been studied by x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and magnetization measurements. Partial substitution of Al for Ge in MnNiGe1−xAlx results in a first-order magnetostructural transition (MST) from a hexagonal ferromagnetic to an orthorhombic antiferromagnetic phase at 186 K (for x = 0.09). A large magnetic entropy change of ∆SM = -17.6 J/kg K for ∆H = 5 T was observed in the vicinity of TM = 186 K for x = 0.09. This value is comparable to those of well-known giant magnetocaloric materials, such as Gd5Si2Ge2, MnFeP0.45As0.55, and Ni50Mn37Sn13 [1]. The values of the latent heat (L = 6.6 J/g) and corresponding total entropy changes (∆ST = 35 J/kg K) have been evaluated for the MST using DSC measurements. Large negative values of ∆SM of -5.8 and -4.8 J/kg K for ∆H = 5 T in the vicinity of TC were observed for x = 0.09 and 0.085, respectively. Partial substitution of Cr for Mn in(Mn1−xCrx)NiGe1.05 results in a MST from a hexagonal paramagnetic to an orthorhombic paramagnetic phase near TM ~ 380 K (for x = 0.07). Partial substitution of Cr for In in Ni50Mn35(In1−xCrx)15 shifts the magnetostructural transition to a higher temperature (TM ~ 450 K) for x = 0.1. Large magnetic entropy changes of ∆SM = -12 (J/kgK) and ∆S = -11 (J/kgK), both for a magnetic field change of 5 T, were observed in the vicinity of TM for (Mn1−xCrx)NiGe1.05 and Ni50Mn35(In1−xCrx)15, respectively. The concentration-dependent (T-x) phase diagram of transition temperatures (magnetic, structural, and magnetostructural) has been generated using magnetic, XRD, and DSC data. The role of magnetic and structural changes on transition temperatures are discussed.
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