Hysteresis loss and field dependence of magnetic entropy change of Zn-doped Mn5Ge3 system

Abstract

In this work, a series of Mn5Ge3-xZnx samples were prepared by the arc-melting method. The Rietveld structure refinement of the powder XRD spectrum was performed using the FullProf program. The lattice parameters and cell volume increase with the doping of Zn atoms. From the magnetization curve at 5 K, the compounds show a decreased magnetic moment of the Mn atom with increasing Zn content, resulting from mixing the 3d electronic state of Mn atoms and the 3d electronic state of Zn atoms. The small hysteresis loss and soft ferromagnetism of Mn5Ge3-xZnx indicate that it is suitable for magnetic refrigeration. Thermomagnetic M(T) curves show an increase in thermal hysteresis concurrent with increasing Zn concentration, which is verified by the DSC curve. It is found that the magnetic entropy change and effective magnetic moment decrease with the increase of Zn content, which can be attributable to the doping of Zn atoms resulting in the weakening of the exchange interaction between Mn-Mn atoms and the decrease of magnetic entropy change. In addition, the specific power-law relationships between the magnetic entropy change, the maximum magnetic entropy change, the relative cooling capacity, and the magnetic field of this system were determined, which provides a tool for evaluating the performance of the magnetic refrigerant in the entire magnetic field range. Finally, the specific heat was calculated by the magnetic entropy change obtained by the experiment, and the specific heat curve proves that the sample undergoes a second-order phase transition, consistent with the results of Arrott plots. The TC obtained by the specific heat -ΔCP−T curve is in good agreement with the TC obtained by the magnetic measurement, revealing that TC obtained by the specific heat is also an effective method.