Reverse magnetostructural transitions by Co and In doping NiMnGa alloys: structural, magnetic and magnetoelastic properties

We review the composition dependence of the structural and magnetic properties of the Co-doped Ni–Mn–Ga Ferromagnetic Shape Memory Alloy around the Mn-rich composition Ni50Mn30Ga20. The presence of Co affects the critical temperatures and alters the exchange interactions of martensite and austenite to different extents; by varying the composition it is possible to tune the critical temperatures and to induce a “paramagnetic gap” between the magnetically ordered martensite and magnetic austenite, thus giving rise to a reverse magnetostructural transformation. The magnetic and structural properties display noticeable discontinuities across the martensitic transformation: remarkable values of the saturation magnetization jump at the transformation (ΔM), of the field dependence of the martensitic transformation temperature (dTM/dH), and of the crystalline volume change (ΔV/V) are reported, and are considerably enhanced by additional Indoping of the quaternary alloy. These properties give rise to a remarkable phenomenology which is of interest for multifunctional applications; magnetic superelasticity and high values of reversible strain are found.