Ce3Al11/Al2O3 nanocapsules with large cryogenic magnetocaloric effect

Nanocapsules with the intermetallic compound Ce3Al11 as core and amorphous Al2O3 (or Al) as the shell have been prepared using the arc-discharge technique. The Ce3Al11/Al2O3 nanocapsules display superparamagnetic properties between the blocking temperature and the Curie temperature. The cryogenic magnetocaloric effect of the Ce3Al11/Al2O3 nanocapsules was measured between 2 and 14 K. A maximum magnetic-entropy change −ΔSM of 8.3 J kg−1 K−1 has been observed at 4.5 K for a magnetic-field change from 0 to 70 kOe.