Structure and Multifunctional Properties of Co50V33Ga16Sb1 Alloy

Abstract

Co50V33Ga17−xSbx (x = 0, 1, 2) alloys were prepared by the arc-melting method. The effect of substitution of Sb for Ga on the crystalline structure, martensitic transformation (MT), magnetocaloric effect and shape memory effect of Co50V33Ga17 alloy has been investigated. The experimental results combined with theoretical calculation results indicate that Co50V33Ga17−xSbx (x = 0, 1, 2) series alloys are stabilized in a highly ordered Cu2MnAl (L21)-type structure with a space group $$ {\text{F}}m\bar{3}m $$ (no. 225) and Pearson’s symbol cF16 at 300 K. The temperature dependence of magnetization indicates that both Co50V33Ga16Sb1 and Co50V33Ga15Sb2 alloys experience the MT process; however, only Co50V33Ga16Sb1 possesses metamagnetic MT, which is relatively sensitive to the applied magnetic field. Associated with such a prominent behavior, the isothermal entropy change was obtained, which is about 4.53 J K−1 kg−1, 7.51 J K−1 kg−1 and 10.67 J K−1 kg−1 at about 164 K under the applied field of 1 T, 2 T and 3 T, respectively. Furthermore, a large strain value of 0.33% in Co50V33Ga16Sb1 alloy was obtained under an external magnetic field of 3 T during the MT, which is larger than that of 0.28% induced by temperature. These salient features indicate that the alloy may probably act as a potential candidate for applications in the shape memory alloy, magnetic refrigeration and magnetic sensors.