Magnetocaloric effect of LaFe11.35Co0.6Si1.05 alloy

The aim of the present paper was to study the large magnetocaloric effect observed in LaFe11.35Co0.6Si1.05 alloy. X-ray diffraction (XRD) result reveals a coexistence of two crystalline phases: a dominant La(Fe,Si)(13)-type and a minor alpha-Fe(Co,Si). It is confirmed by the Mossbauer spectroscopy and microstructural observations accompanied by an energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. The value of the magnetic entropy changes (|S-M|) in the vicinity of the Curie temperature (T-C = 268 K) was calculated using thermomagnetic Maxwell relation, and it equals to 21.4 J center dot kg(-1)center dot K-1 under the change in an external magnetic field of mu(0)Delta H = 3T. The investigation of magnetic phase transition was carried out using the Landau theory, an analysis of the field dependences of the magnetic entropy change and universal scaling curve, revealing the second order of phase transition in the studied material.

Automated summary

The aim of this study was to investigate the large magnetocaloric effect in LaFe11.35Co0.6Si1.05 alloy. X-ray diffraction and Mossbauer spectroscopy confirmed the coexistence of La(Fe,Si)(13)-type and alpha-Fe(Co,Si) phases. The magnetic entropy change and phase transition were analyzed using thermomagnetic Maxwell relation, Landau theory, and universal scaling curve.