Effects of carbon on magnetic properties and magnetic entropy change of the LaFe11.5Si1.5 compound

Abstract

Effects of the interstitial carbon atoms on the magnetic properties, especially on the magnetic entropy change, of the LaFe11.5Si1.5 compound, have been studied. X-ray diffraction patterns reveal a monotonous increase of the lattice constant with the concentration of carbon, while the cubic NaZn13-type structure remains unchanged. The Curie temperatures TC of LaFe11.5Si1.5Cy are ∼195, 225, and 241 K for y=0, 0.2, and 0.5, respectively, increasing with the increase of carbon concentration. The maximal magnetic entropy changes |ΔS| of LaFe11.5Si1.5Cy at the respective TC under a magnetic field change of 0–5 T are ∼24.6, ∼22.8, and ∼12.7 J/kg K for y=0, 0.2, and 0.5, respectively, notably exceeding that of Gd (|ΔS| ∼9.8 J/kg K at TC=293 K). The |ΔS| of LaFe11.5Si1.5C0.2 is nearly as giant as that of the parent alloy LaFe11.5Si1.5 due to the first-order field-induced itinerant-electron metamagnetic transition that occurs in both compounds clearly observed for the LaFe11.5Si1.5C0.5 compound. With the increase of carbon concentration, the nature of magnetic transition has been changed from first order to second order, which results in the significant decrease of the magnetic entropy change. The large |ΔS|, convenient adjustment of TC and relatively low cost make the LaFe11.5Si1.5Cy interstitial compounds promising candidates for magnetic refrigerants in the corresponding temperature range.