Magnetic and the magnetocaloric properties of Ce1-xRxFe2 and Ce(Fe1-xMx)2 compounds

TL;DR

This study investigates how doping CeFe2 compounds with various elements affects their magnetic and magnetocaloric properties, demonstrating tunability of the Curie temperature and magnetocaloric effect near room temperature.

Contribution

It provides new insights into how specific dopants alter magnetic transitions and magnetocaloric effects in CeFe2 compounds, enabling targeted property tuning.

Findings

Curie temperature can be tuned to 267-318 K with Gd and Ho doping.

Rare earth substitutions enhance the localization of Ce 4f electrons.

Magnetocaloric effect can be optimized by selecting appropriate dopants.

Abstract

We have studied selected rare earth doped and transition metal doped CeFe2 compounds by examining their structural, magnetic and magneto-thermal properties. With substitution of Ce by 5 and 10% Gd and 10% Ho, the Curie temperature can be tuned to the range of 267-318 K. Localization of Ce 4f electronic state with rare earth substitutions is attributed for the enhancement of Curie temperature. On the other hand, with Ga and Al substitution at the Fe site, system undergoes paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition and then to an antiferromagnetic phase on cooling. The magnetocaloric effect across the transitions has been studied from both magnetization isotherms and heat capacity data. It is shown that by choosing the appropriate dopant and its concentration, the magnetocaloric effect around room temperature can be tuned.