Large reversible magnetostrictive effect in the Gd1−xSmxMn2Ge2 (x = 0.37, 0.34) alloys at room temperature

The metamagnetic transition and magnetic-field-induced strain are investigated in the Gd66Sm34 and Gd63Sm37 alloys. The thermal- or magnetic-field-induced magnetoelastic transitions are observed in these alloys at room temperature, which are accompanied by large lattice distortion and minimal hysteresis. Large reversible magnetostriction of 900 and 350 ppm can be obtained in the Gd63Sm37 alloy at 290 K with the magnetic fields of 1 T and 0.5 T, respectively. This excellent magnetostrictive performance is attributed to the lattice change during the magnetic-field-induced magnetoelastic transition.