Anisotropic magnetocaloric effect - enhancement of application potential of magnetic refrigerants

The project is aimed to test the prediction that the application potential of selected metallic materials for magnetic cooling can be remarkably improved by the proper use of the magnetocrystalline and shape anisotropy. To achieve this objective mainly the single crystals and magnetically oriented samples of intermetallic compounds with remarkably anisotropic properties will be studied (RE2Fe17, RET2, REn+1Co3n+5B2n, MnAs type and the substitution modified analogues, RE-rare earth, T-Fe,Ni,Co). The obtained information about the effect of external parameters (temperature, pressure and magnetic field) and chemical composition on phase transitions within the magnetically ordered state (ferro-antiferro, spin reorientation, compensation temp.) and on instability of 3d magnetism will be used to understand the behavior of magnetic entropy within the magnetic phase diagrams. Materials will be prepared and studied in the Joint Laboratory for Magnetic Studies. Up-to-date ab initio electronic-structure calculations will provide a necessary feedback on understanding of microscopic mechanisms.