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Title: Non-hysteretic first-order phase transition with large latent heat and giant low-field magnetocaloric effect

Journal Article · · Nature Communications
 [1];  [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [2];  [3]
  1. Ames Lab. and Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States)
  2. European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF), Grenoble (France)
  3. Ames Lab. and Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States); Iowa State Univ., Ames, IA (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering

First-order magnetic transitions (FOMTs) with a large discontinuity in magnetization are highly sought in the development of advanced functional magnetic materials. Isosymmetric magnetoelastic FOMTs that do not perturb crystal symmetry are especially rare, and only a handful of material families, almost exclusively transition metal-based, are known to exhibit them. Yet, here we report a surprising isosymmetric FOMT in a rare-earth intermetallic, Eu2In. What makes this transition in Eu2In even more remarkable is that it is associated with a large latent heat and an exceptionally high magnetocaloric effect in low magnetic fields, but with tiny lattice discontinuities and negligible hysteresis. Finally, an active role of the Eu-5d and In-4p states and a rather unique electronic structure borne by In to Eu charge transfer, altogether result in an unusual exchange mechanism that both sets the transition in motion and unveils an approach toward developing specific magnetic functionalities ad libitum.

Research Organization:
Ames Laboratory (AMES), Ames, IA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-07CH11358
OSTI ID:
1464472
Report Number(s):
IS-J-9693; PII: 5268
Journal Information:
Nature Communications, Vol. 9, Issue 1; ISSN 2041-1723
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 86 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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A universal metric for ferroic energy materials
  • Brück, Ekkes; Yibole, Hargen; Zhang, Lian
  • Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, Vol. 374, Issue 2074 https://doi.org/10.1098/rsta.2015.0303
journal August 2016
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Cited By (6)

A case of multifunctional intermetallic compounds: negative thermal expansion coupling with magnetocaloric effect in (Gd,Ho)(Co,Fe) 2 journal January 2019
The first-order magnetoelastic transition in Eu 2 In: A 151 Eu Mössbauer study journal December 2019
Magnetocaloric effect in 2D-alkylammonium copper halides layered inorganic-organic systems journal February 2020
Effect of chemical and hydrostatic pressure on the coupled magnetostructural transition of Ni-Mn-In Heusler alloys journal December 2019
Magnetocaloric materials: From micro- to nanoscale journal November 2018
Effect of chemical and hydrostatic pressure on the coupled magnetostructural transition of Ni-Mn-In Heusler alloys text January 2020