Magnetocaloric properties of GdFe0.83Al3.02 multiphase alloy having multiple magnetic transitions

• Novel GdFe0.83Al3.02 multiphase alloy has been prepared by Arc melting method.
• Structure, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties have been studied.
• In the alloy magnetocaloric effect (MCE) is originated from 2 different phases.
• The merging of dual MCE peaks has significantly widened working temperature span.
• The merging of peaks in turn maximizes refrigerant capacity of the compound.

The structural, magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the multiphase alloy GdFe0.83Al3 .02 have been investigated. This alloy crystallises in two different phases such as hexagonal GdFe3.89Al7.56 (≈GdFe4Al8) and cubic GdAl2, respectively, offers successive ferromagnetic transition at T1 = 36.5 K and T2 = 169 K. The maximum reversible − ΔSM values 2.3 and 1.6 J/kg K are found at T1 = 36.5 K and T2 = 169 K, respectively for a field change of 0–5 T. The overlap of these peaks with a minimum −ΔSM value of 1.2 J/kg K significantly enlarges the working temperature span with substantial magnetocaloric effect. Hence, the results on GdFe0.83Al3.02 show that the materials with sequential ferromagnetic transitions originating from the two different phases may create a new class of magnetocaloric materials as they could work in a broader temperature range than the conventional refrigerant materials.