Mo2NiB2-type Sm2Co2Al and Sm2Co2Ga compounds: Magnetic properties and giant low-temperature coercivity

Abstract

The magnetic ordering of Mo2NiB2-type Sm2Co2Al and Sm2Co2Ga (Immm, No. 71, oI10) compounds has been established using bulk magnetic measurements. Polycrystalline Sm2Co2Al and Sm2Co2Ga undergo ferromagnetic transitions (TC) at 50 K and 62 K, respectively, and low-temperature field induced transitions (Tm) around 14 K and 16 K (in a field of 10 kOe), respectively. Between TC and Tm Sm2Co2Al and Sm2Co2Ga are soft ferromagnets. Below Tm Sm2Co2Al and Sm2Co2Ga exhibit permanent magnet properties with a residual magnetization per samarium of 0.38 μB and 0.36 μB, respectively, and a large coercive field of 69 kOe and 72 kOe, respectively, at 5 K.The magnetocaloric effects of Sm2Co2Al and Sm2Co2Ga were calculated in terms of isothermal magnetic entropy change and they reach maximum values of −1.62 J/kg K and −1.31 J/kg K for a field change of 50 kOe at 50 K and 58 K, respectively. Low temperature magnetic ordering with enhanced anisotropy in Sm2Co2Al and Sm2Co2Ga is accompanied by a positive magnetocaloric effect with isothermal magnetic entropy changes of +1.63 J/kg K and +1.06 J/kg K for a field change of 50 kOe at 10 K and 8 K, respectively.