Effect of annealing on the magnetic entropy change of CoMnSb alloy

Effect of annealing on the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of half-Heusler CoMnSb alloy has been investigated in a low magnetic field by comparing two samples. They were annealed at a lower temperature of 873 K and a higher temperature of 1323 K, referred as samples A and B, respectively. The maximum value of magnetic entropy change of 2.1 J/(kg K) for the sample A is larger than that of 1.0 J/(kg K) for the sample B. However, a wider working temperature span and a larger refrigerant capacity were obtained in the sample B, indicating that the sample annealed at a higher temperature is superior to the one annealed at a lower temperature in practical application as a refrigeration material.