Tunable magnetocaloric properties of Gd based alloys via Zn and Cd additions

Magnetocaloric effect by employing direct measurements of the adiabatic temperature changes (Delta T-ad) with a low magnetic field change (Delta H) up to 1.2 T are investigated, for the Gd based alloys with Zn and Cd substituted for Gd individually or synchronously. A comparative study of the adiabatic temperature change (Delta T-ad) and magnetic entropy change (Delta S-M) near room temperature has been reported in three different alloys of Gd1 - xZnx, Gd-1 (-) Cd-y(y) and Gd-0.95(Zn1 - zCdz)(0.05). Effects of Zn and Cd content on magnetocaloric effect and the Curie temperature (T-c) are studied in different alloys. A direct correlation between phase structure and Delta T-ad, Delta S-M, T-c was discussed in three different types alloys of Gd1 - xZnx, Gd-1 (-) Cd-y(y), and Gd-0.95(Zn1 - Cd-z(z))(0.05). Mechanism of Zn improving the Delta T-ad and Cd increasing the Tc is revealed. It is expected that magnetic refrigeration near room temperature has a potential for superseding the traditional gas refrigeration. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.