Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties in ferrimagnetic Mn2−xCoxSb (x=0.15, 0.20) alloys

Due to the energy-efficiency and environment-friendliness, magnetic refrigeration based on the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) has extensively been investigated during the past years, which is considered as a promising alternative to conventional gas-compression refrigeration [1-3]. In this context, the materials undergoing magnetic transition, especially the first-order magnetic transition (FOMT), have attracted the increasing attentions due to sharp change of magnetization ΔM observed near phase transition, which are generally associated with the large magnetocaloric effect (MCE) [1-3]. In this work, we reported on the structure and transitional behaviors in the Mn_2xCo_xSb (x=0.15, 0.20) alloys prepared by arc-melting method followed by annealing at 800 °C for 8 days. These alloys show an FOMT between AFM and FRI state. From the standard and loop process method, respectively, the isothermal magnetizations were measured and the magnetocaloric properties were studied for these alloys.