Giant magnetocaloric effect of MnAs1−xSbx

Abstract

A giant magnetocaloric effect was found in MnAs, which undergoes a first-order ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition at 318 K. The magnetic entropy change caused by a magnetic field of 5 T is as large as 30 J/K kg at the maximum value, which exceeds that of conventional magnetic refrigerant materials by a factor of 2–4. The adiabatic temperature change reaches 13 K in a field change of 5 T. The substitution of 10% Sb for As reduces the thermal hysteresis and lowers the Curie temperature to 280 K, while the giant magnetocaloric properties are retained.