Magnetocaloric effect in the La0.8Ce0.2Fe11.4−xCoxSi1.6 compounds

Abstract The effects of substitution of Co for Fe on the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of La 0.8 Ce 0.2 Fe 11.4− x Co x Si 1.6 (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.0) compounds have been investigated. X-ray diffraction shows that all compounds crystallize in the NaZn 13 -type structure. Magnetic measurements show that the Curie temperature ( T C ) can be tuned between 184 and 294 K by changing the Co content from 0 to 1. A field-induced methamagnetic transition occurs in samples with x =0, 0.2 and 0.4. The magnetic entropy changes of the compounds have been determined from the isothermal magnetization measurements by using the Maxwell relation.