Room Temperature Magnetocaloric Effect in Ni-Mn-In

Abstract

We have studied the effect of magnetic field on a non-stoichiometric Heusler alloy Ni$_{50}$Mn$_{35}$In$_{15}$ that undergoes a martensitic as well as a magnetic transition near room temperature. Temperature dependent magnetization measurements demonstrate the influence of magnetic field on the structural phase transition temperature. From the study of magnetization as a function of applied field, we show the occurrence of inverse-magnetocaloric effect associated with this magneto-structural transition. The magnetic entropy change attains a value as high as 25 J/kg-K (at 5 T field) at room temperature as the alloy transforms from the austenitic to martensitic phase with a concomitant magnetic ordering.