Large inverse magnetocaloric effect in Ni₅₀Mn₃₄In₁₆

TLDR

The study investigates the magnetocaloric effect in the Ni₅₀Mn₃₄In₁₆ alloy system. The inverse magnetocaloric effect arises from an entropy increase when an external magnetic field is applied. Ni₅₀Mn₃₄In₁₆ shows a large inverse magnetocaloric effect across its austenite–martensite transition, with substantial magnetic entropy change and field‑hysteresis losses, yet still achieves a high refrigerant capacity over a wide temperature interval.

Abstract

We report a study of the magnetocaloric effect in the ternary alloy system Ni50Mn34In16. This system undergoes an austenite–martensite phase transition, and the change in magnetic entropy is found to be quite large across this martensitic transition. This entropy change is due to an increase in entropy induced by the application of an external magnetic field and can lead to a large inverse magnetocaloric effect. Isothermal magnetic field variation of magnetization exhibits field hysteresis in Ni50Mn34In16 across the martensitic transition. But in spite of the hysteresis losses, a large effective refrigerant capacity can be obtained in this material over a wide temperature interval.