Heat capacity and magnetoresistance in Dy(Co,Si)2 compounds

TL;DR

This study investigates the magnetocaloric effect and magnetoresistance in Dy(Co,Si)2 compounds, revealing how Si substitution influences these properties and explaining the results through itinerant electron metamagnetism.

Contribution

It provides new experimental data on magnetocaloric and magnetoresistive properties of Dy(Co,Si)2 compounds with varying Si content and interprets the results via itinerant electron metamagnetism.

Findings

Maximum magnetocaloric effect of 11.4 Jkg^-1K^-1 in DyCo2

Maximum magnetoresistance of about 32% in DyCo2

Both effects decrease with increasing Si concentration

Abstract

Magnetocaloric effect and magnetoresistance have been studied in Dy(Co1-xSix)2 [x=0, 0.075 and 0.15] compounds. Magnetocaloric effect has been calculated in terms of adiabatic temperatue change (Delta Tad) as well as isothermal magnetic entropy change (Delta SM) using the heat capacity data. The maximum values of DeltaSM and DeltaTad for DyCo2 are found to be 11.4 JKg-1K-1 and 5.4 K, respectively. Both DSM and DTad decrease with Si concentration, reaching a value of 5.4 JKg-1K-1 and 3 K, respectively for x=0.15. The maximum magnetoresistance is found to about 32% in DyCo2, which decreases with increase in Si. These variations are explained on the basis of itinerant electron metamagnetism occurring in these compounds.