Room temperature magneto-caloric effect and electron transport properties study on Ni2.14Mn0.55Sb1.31 alloy.

Ni 2.14 Mnd 0.55 Sb 1.3 Heusler alloy has been prepared by the conventional arc melting method with vacuum-sealed annealing. The sample has been crystallized to Fm 3 ¯ m space group in L2 1 phase, and it is the parent crystal structure of the Ni-based Full Heusler alloy. It has been found that the sample has the Curie temperature (para to ferromagnetic transition temperature) at 290K. It was determined from magnetization ∼ temperature plot (M ∼ T) as well as by employing the Arrott plot method. Also, critical exponent analysis by employing the Arrott plot and Kouvel-Fisher methods confirm that the sample (Ni 2.14 Mn 0.55 Sb 1.31) obeys mean field theory with long range spin ordering. Analysis of temperature dependent resistivity data interestingly reveals the phonon-phonon and magnon-manon scattering dominance above and below the Curie temperature, respectively. The electrical and magnetic properties investigation endorse that there is a correlation between magnetic and electrical properties of the above sample. The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) analysis is carried out by using the Maxwell's equations in isothermal magnetization data. It is interesting to note that the sample exhibits maximum MCE near the room temperature (∼290K), i.e., the magnetic Curie temperature. Hence the present alloy may be a potential material to be used for magnetic refrigeration application. • Para to ferromagnetic transition temperature (Curie temperature, T C) is at 290 K, which is near room temperature. • There is semi-metallic behaviour at 60 K–130 K and at 300 K–400 K, there is metallic behaviour. • There is metal to semimetal transition with reasonable RCP value near about 290 K, which is a magnetic Curie temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]