Magnetocaloric effect in reduced dimensions: Thin films, ribbons, and microwires of Heusler alloys and related compounds

Room temperature magnetic refrigeration is an energy saving and environmentally-friendly technology, which has developed rapidly from a basic idea to prototype devices. The performance of magnetic refrigerators crucially depends on the magnetocaloric properties and the geometry of the employed refrigerants. Here we review the magnetocaloric properties of Heusler alloys and related compounds with a high surface to volume ratio such as films, ribbons, and microwires, and compare them with their bulk counterparts. (C) 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim