Magnetocaloric performance and its linear relationship with magnetoresistance in Gd-Al-Cu metallic glass

Abstract The magnetocaloric property and magneto-resistance (MR) of Gd83Cu9Al8 metallic glass (MG) showing a second order ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition have been investigated. A large maximum magnetic entropy change of 9.7 J/kg.K under a field change of 5 T was obtained, indicative of its attractiveness as magnetic refrigerants. Importantly, a linear relationship was observed between magnetic entropy change, ΔSm, and MR in both the ferromagnetic and paramagnetic states, which is different from that of the reported rare earth based MGs and intermetallics. The diversiform relationships of MR vs ΔSm in MGs imply the complexity of their underliying mechanisms. The linear ΔSm-MR relationship sheds new light on the magnetocaloric effect of MGs, and can guide the design of amorphous magnetic refrigerants.