Transformation behavior and inverse magnetocaloric effect in Ni45Co5Mn36.7In13.3-Ge melt-spun ribbons

In the present work the influence of Ge doping on crystal structure, microstructure, martensitic transformation (MT) and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of Heusler-type Ni45Co5Mn36.7In13.3-xGex (x = 0, 2, and 3 at. %) metamagnetic shape memory alloys (MetaMSMAs) have been studied. Melt-spinning was used to prepare ribbons of these alloys since the ribbon shape ensures a high surface-to-volume ratio favoring a high heat exchange rate in a solid-state refrigeration. Furthermore, melt-spinning can induce a specific microstructure and stabilize metastable phases at room temperature. The ribbons were examined by X-ray diffraction at different temperatures, scanning electron microscopy, calorimetry, thermomagnetization, and magnetic field induced adiabatic temperature change measurements carried out across MT. It was found that Ge doping gave rise to enhanced antiferromagnetic interactions, stabilized martensitic phase, increased the MT temperature, causing larger magnetization jumps at MT and making narrower MT hysteresis. The x = 3 ribbon exhibited an inverse MCE at 303 K characterized by the isothermal magnetic entropy change value of |26.9|J/kgK at μ0H = 5 T and an adiabatic temperature change of ǀ1.5ǀ K at μ0H = 1.96 T. These values are comparable with the previously reported data on the Ni–Mn-based metamagnetic shape memory alloys in a bulk form.