Reversible magnetocaloric effects and critical behaviors in Ce1-xPrxFe2

Abstract

A systematic investigation of the magnetocaloric effects and critical behavior in Ce1-xPrxFe2 (x=0.02 and 0.06) has been performed. The partial replacement of Ce for Pr leads to a rapid increase in TC from 242K (x=0.02) to 256K (x=0.06). Along with this transition, reversible large magnetic entropy changes of 3.45 and 2.74Jkg−1K−1 under a magnetic field of 5T were found, respectively. The critical exponents (β, γ) has been obtained by modified Arrott plot. With these critical exponents, we find that the experimental M-T-H behavior below and above TC obeys scaling law. The critical analysis reveals that the gradual replacement of Ce for Pr tends to drive the system from the long-range-like (x=0.02) to the short-range-like (x=0.06) ferromagnetic order below TC.