Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Gd1−xScxNi2 solid solutions

Magnetic and heat capacity measurements have been carried out on the polycrystalline Gd1−xScxNi2 solid solutions (0≤x≤1), which crystallize in the cubic C15 Laves phases superstructure (space group F4−3m). These solid solutions are ferromagnetic with a Curie temperature below 76 K. Their Curie temperature decreases from 75.4 K for GdNi2 to 13.6 K for Gd0.2Sc0.8Ni2. At high temperatures, all solid solutions, except ScNi2, are Curie–Weiss paramagnets. The Debye temperature as well as phonon, conduction electron and magnetic contributions to the heat capacity have been determined from heat capacity measurements. The magnetocaloric effect has been estimated both in terms of isothermal magnetic entropy change and adiabatic temperature change for selected solid solutions in magnetic fields up to 3 T.

▸ Polycrystalline Gd1−xScxNi2 solid solutions. ▸ Magnetic refrigerators. ▸ Magnetocaloric effect has been estimated. ▸ Candidate for magnetic refrigerant materials.