Magnetic phase diagram, magnetocaloric effect, and exchange bias in Ni43Mn46Sn11−xGax Heusler alloys

Abstract

Abstract In this work, the effect of Ga substitution on the crystal structure, phase transitions, magnetocaloric effect, and exchange bias properties, was systematically investigated in Ni43Mn46Sn11−xGax alloys. With increasing Ga content, the Curie temperature of austenite slightly decreases, while the martensitic transformation temperature shifts to a higher temperature and finally disappears, due to the emergence of γ phase. Large low-field magnetic entropy changes around the martensitic transformation were observed as the transition from a paramagnetic martensitic phase to a ferromagnetic austenitic phase took place. Ni43Mn46Sn11 has a reentrant-spin-glass ground state, and Ga doping can enhance the antiferromagnetic interaction arising from lattice contraction, leading to close of intermediate ferromagnetic windows and establishment of canonical spin-glass for x > 2. Prominently, the zero-field-cooled exchange was achieved in the spin-glass region with 5 ⩽ x ⩽ 10 .