Phase transitions and magnetocaloric effect in MnNiGe 1--xAlx, Ni50Mn35(In1--x Crx)15 and (Mn1--xCrx)NiGe 1.05

The magnetocaloric and thermomagnetic properties of the MnNiGe1-x Alx, Ni50Mn35(In1-xCr x)15 and (Mn1-xCrx)NiGe 1.05 systems have been studied by x-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and magnetization measurements.;Partial substitution of Al for Ge in MnNiGe1-xAl x 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 DeltaSM = -17.6 J/kg K for DeltaH = 5 T was observed in the vicinity of T M = 186 K for x = 0.09. This value is comparable to those of well-known giant magnetocaloric materials, such as Gd5Si2Ge 2, MnFeP0.45As0.55, and Ni50Mn 37Sn13 [1]. The values of the latent heat (L = 6.6 J/g) and corresponding total entropy changes (DeltaST = 35 J/kg K) have been evaluated for the MST using DSC measurements. Large negative values of DeltaS M of -5.8 and -4.8 J/kg K for DeltaH = 5 T in the vicinity of T C were observed for x = 0.09 and 0.085, respectively.;Partial substitution of Cr for Mn in(Mn1-xCrx)NiGe 1.05 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-xCr x)15 shifts the magnetostructural transition to a higher temperature (TM ~ 450 K) for x = 0.1. Large magnetic entropy changes of DeltaSM = -12 (J/kgK) and DeltaS = -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 Ni 50Mn35(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.