Large Field-Induced Magnetocaloric Effect in Ni$_{43}$ Mn$_{46 - {\rm x}}$V$_{\rm x}$Sn$_{11}$ Heusler Alloys

The magnetocaloric effect of Ni
₄₃
Mn
_46-x
V
_x
Sn
₁₁
(x = 0.00, 0.75, 1.25, 1.50) alloys has been investigated. It is revealed that partial substitution of V for Mn dramatically enhances the magnetic entropy change from 15.4 J/kg.K for x=0 to 36.1 J/kg.K for x=1.25 under a magnetic field of 3 T. A large refrigeration capacity up to 164.2 J/kg for x=1.50 indicates that the V-doped Ni
₄₃
Mn
₄₆
Sn
₁₁
alloys are promising candidates for the application in magnetic refrigeration. The origin of large magnetic entropy change and the variation of phase transformation temperature were discussed in terms of
d
electron density.