Large Magnetization and Reversible Magnetocaloric Effect at the Second-Order Magnetic Transition in Heusler Materials

In contrast to rare-earth-based materials, cheaper and more environmentally friendly candidates for cooling applications are found within the family of Ni–Mn Heusler alloys. Initial interest in these materials is focused on the first-order magnetostructural transitions. However, large hysteresis makes a magnetocaloric cycle irreversible. Alternatively, here it is shown how the Heusler family can be used to optimize reversible second-order magnetic phase transitions for magnetocaloric applications.