Magnetocaloric effect in high Gd content Gd-Fe-Al based amorphous/nanocrystalline systems with enhanced Curie temperature and refrigeration capacity

摘要: The Gd-Fe-Al amorphous/nanocrystalline composites were successfully designed and obtained with both high Curie temperature (Tc) and large magnetic entropy change (∆SM). The Tc can be tuned from 172 to 280 K and refrigeration capacity (RC) has a value between 690 and 867 J/kg under a eld change of 0–5 T by changing the Gd contents and the formation of Gd nanocrystallites. And, ∆SM in Gd-Fe-Al amorphous/nanocrystalline composites reached a value of 7.2 J kg−1 K−1 under a eld change of 0–5 T. The high RC in Gd-Fe-Al system were ascribed to the widening full width at half maximum (δFWHM) up to 240 K of the magnetic entropy change (∆SMmax) peak because of the combination contribution of amorphous matrix and the precipitated Gd-riched nanocrystalline. Our research would shed light on how to design attractive candidates for magnetic refrigeration materials with high perfor- manceatnearroomtemperature