Magnetism and Magnetocaloric Effect in La1-yNdy(Fe0.88Si0.12)13 Compounds

Structural and magnetic properties of La_1-yNdy(Fe_0.88Si_0.12)₁₃ compounds have been investigated by means of X-ray diffraction and magnetization measurements. The single-phase NaZn₁₃-type cubic structure is stabilized for the compounds with y = 0, 0.1, 0.3 and 0.4. All the synthesized compounds are ferromagnetic. Their Curie temperature TC slightly increases with increasing Nd up to y = 0.3. The most striking effect of the Nd substitution, however, is in their itinerant-electron metamagnetic behavior and the magnetocaloric effect in the vicinity of TC. The maximum entropy change decreases somewhat, but the relative cooling power increases with increasing Nd content (i.e. for y = 0.3).