Magnetocaloric effect and applied refrigeration performance of La(Fe,Si)13-based compounds

As a solid-state refrigeration technology, room-temperature magnetic refrigeration has several significant advantages comparing with conventional gas compression refrigeration, such as environmental friendliness, high energy efficiency and dependable operation. In the present study, the magnetocaloric effect and applied refrigeration performance of La0.8Ce0.2Fe11.6-xMn0.15+xSi1.25Al0.1H1.8 (x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12) compounds were studied systematically. All alloys crystallize mainly in NaZn13-type phase with trace α-Fe phase between 1.36 and 1.80 wt%. The necessary heat treatment improves the formation of main phase. As x increases, the Curie temperature (Tc) decreases gradually from 295.3 K to 273.0 K. All alloys undergo strong field-induced first-order itinerant-electron metamagnetic transition. Under 0–1.5 T, the maximum magnetic entropy changes (-ΔSM)max for La0.8Ce0.2Fe11.6-xMn0.15+xSi1.25Al0.1H1.8 (x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12) compounds vary from 10.9 J/(kg K) to 13.5 J/(kg K). And the maximum adiabatic temperature changes (ΔTad)max vary from 2.7 K to 3.9 K. To study the applied refrigeration performance, a rotary magnetic refrigerator is designed successfully, whose refrigeration temperature and cooling power meet the requirement of cold storage. Successful large-quantity preparation, giant magnetocaloric effect and excellent refrigeration performance suggest that, La0.8Ce0.2Fe11.6-xMn0.15+xSi1.25Al0.1H1.8 (x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09, 0.12) compounds can be used as the promising candidates for magnetic refrigerants.