Binary Gdx(Gd5Si2Ge2) 1-x (x= 0.25, 0.33, 0.5, 0.67, 0.75 ) magnetic refrigerants for room-temperature applications

In present study, spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique, an ideal technique for quick jointing different materials, has been introduced to prepare layer structural binary composite Gd_x(Gd₅Si₂Ge₂)_1-x magnetic refrigerants. In spite of their excellent magneto-thermal properties, the MCE of these materials are usually pronounced only in the vicinity of the magnetic phase transition temperature and decrease remarkably at other temperature, which will not satisfy the design requirement of a magnetic refrigerator covering a large temperature span.