Large reversible magnetocaloric effects originating from ferromagnetic phase transition in Gd(Cu1-xNix)2 (x=0.12, 0.15)

Here, the significant increase in MCE without any hysteresis loss was achieved through the substitution of nickel for a portion of the copper in GdCu2 compound. The values of maximum magnetic entropy changes (−ΔSMmax) and refrigeration capacity (RC) for Gd(Cu1-xNix)2 (x=0.12, 0.15) compounds are 10.3 J/kg K, 455.3 J/kg, 9.3 J/kg K and 461.2 J/kg under varying magnetic fields from 0 to 5 T, respectively. The refrigeration capacity of Gd(Cu1-xNix)2 (x=0.12, 0.15) is improved by an order of magnitude compared to the GdCu2 compound under varying magnetic fields from 0 to 5 T. While providing an ideal magnetocaloric refrigerated material for hydrogen liquefaction, our work also suggests a promising approach to the development of new magnetocaloric refrigerated materials.