Anisotropic magnetocaloric effect in TbNiAl

We present study of the anisotropic magnetocaloric effect in TbNiAl crystallizing in the hexagonal ZrNiAl-type structure. TbNiAl orders antiferromagnetically below TN = 47 K and undergoes second magnetic phase transition to another antiferromagnetic structure at T1 = 23 K. Magnetization and specific heat measurements on single crystal revealed strongly anisotropic magnetocaloric effect. The large effect occurs for field applied along the hexagonal c-axis whereas the entropy change is almost zero for the perpendicular field direction. Plateau-like character of the determined temperature change is observed between TN and T1.

► We present study of the anisotropic magnetocaloric effect in TbNiAl.
► TbNiAl undergoes two magnetic transitions and shows MCE in broad temperature range.
► The heat capacity of TbNiAl below the structural transition was measured.