Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects of Gd65(Cu,Co,Mn)35 amorphous ribbons

The magnetic phase transition and magnetocaloric effects of Gd65(Cu,Co,Mn)35 amorphous ribbons were investigated. The increased Mn substitution for Co or Mn substitution for Cu led into a higher second-order magnetic phase transformation temperature, near 200 K in all ribbons. Under the field change of 7 T, a maximum entropy change (ΔSmmax) of 6 J kg−1 K−1 was achieved in Gd65Cu10Co20Mn5 ribbon and slightly dependent on the compositions. With varied composition, a full width at half of ΔSmmax was greatly widened to be over than 180 K for Gd65Cu15Co10Mn10 ribbon. The refrigeration capacity was also greatly enhanced to 1000 J kg−1 for Gd65Cu20Co10Mn5 ribbon, which was even excellent compared with other Gd-based amorphous systems.