Abstract
The series of advanced nanocomposites consisting of Gd2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) embedded into periodic porous SiO2 matrix have been investigated with respect to their structural and magnetocaloric properties. By means of small angle neutron scattering and transmission electron microscopy, regular nanopores organized in the cubic or hexagonal superlattice have been documented. The pores are occupied by the NPs of progressive concentration within the nanocomposite series. All of the examined systems have exhibited extraordinarily high values of magnetic entropy change (up to 70 J kg−1 K−1) at low temperatures with the absence of thermal hysteresis, indicating their perspective utilization in cryogenic refrigeration. Profound analysis of magnetic entropy change data via scaling laws has been applied to the nanocomposite materials for the very first time. With the aid of scaling analysis, conclusions on magnetic properties and phase transition type have been made, even for the conditions unavailable in the laboratory.
Highlights
The series of advanced nanocomposites consisting of Gd2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) embedded into periodic porous SiO2 matrix have been investigated with respect to their structural and magnetocaloric properties
In order to examine the influence of nanoparticle abundance on nanocomposite properties, four SBA15/Gd2O3 systems with increasing concentration of Gd2O3 NPs have been prepared and denoted as SBA15/Gd2O3-0.01 M, SBA15/Gd2O3-0.1 M, SBA15/Gd2O3-0.5 M and SBA15/Gd2O3-4 M
The structure of SBA15/Gd2O3 nanocomposite series has been investigated by means of small angle neutron scattering (SANS)
Summary
The series of advanced nanocomposites consisting of Gd2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) embedded into periodic porous SiO2 matrix have been investigated with respect to their structural and magnetocaloric properties. The analysis of magnetic entropy change data by means of scaling laws allows for the determination of phase transition mechanism, which is in the case of nanoscale systems at low temperatures often very elusive. The results presented in this work are set into the context of our profound experimental and theoretical analysis that we have carried out to the systems of this kind in recent years[16,17,18,19,20,21,22] They provide a comprehensive insight into the nature and performance of advanced nanocomposites that we have prepared and examined
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