Enhancement of magnetocaloric properties by control of magnetocrystalline anisotropy in Ge doped MnFeHfPSi alloy

This study investigated the improvement in magnetocaloric properties with magnetocrystalline anisotropy by Ge doping in MnFeHfPSi alloys. The maximum magnetic entropy change gets larger in alloys with higher magnetocrystalline anisotropy. This result is induced by the fractions of easy and hard magnetization planes. In addition, the magnetocaloric properties indicate large differences based on the direction between the easy magnetization plane and the applied magnetic field. Especially, the difference in magnetic entropy change under a low magnetic field is higher than that under a strong magnetic field. Besides, when magnetic transition occurs from a ferromagnetic to a paramagnetic state, the fraction of the easy magnetization plane decreases. Therefore, orientations with an easy magnetization plane play an important role in the enhancement of magnetocaloric properties. (C) 2022 Author(s).

Automated summary

This study investigates the improvement of magnetocaloric properties in MnFeHfPSi alloys by Ge doping and magnetocrystalline anisotropy. The maximum magnetic entropy change increases in alloys with higher magnetocrystalline anisotropy, which is attributed to the fractions of easy and hard magnetization planes. Moreover, the magnetocaloric properties exhibit significant differences depending on the direction between the easy magnetization plane and the applied magnetic field. The presence of an easy magnetization plane is crucial for enhancing magnetocaloric properties.