Two successive magneto-structural transformations and their relation to enhanced magnetocaloric effect for Ni55.3Mn19.7Ga25 Heusler alloy

In the present work, two successive magneto-structural transformations (MSTs) consisting of martensitic and intermartensitic transitions have been reported in polycrystalline Ni55.8Mn18.1Ga26.1 Heusler alloy. Benefiting from the additional latent heat contributed from intermediate phase, this alloy exhibits a large transition entropy change {\Delta}Str with the value of ~28 J/kg K. Moreover, the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) has been also evaluated in terms of Maxwell relation. For the magnetic field change of 3 T, it is found that the calculated value of refrigeration capacity for Ni55.8Mn18.1Ga26.1 attains to ~72 J/kg around room temperature, which significantly surpasses those obtained in many Ni-Mn based Heusler alloys. The mechanism underlying the enhanced MCE is believed to be responsible for these multiple transformations, which can sustain the pronounced isothermal entropy change {\Delta}ST over a relatively wide temperature interval.