10 January 2002

Magnetic refrigeration: Cool it

Magnetic refrigeration is seen as an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional vapour-cycle refrigeration. And as it eliminates the need for the most inefficient part of today's refrigerators, the compressor, it should save costs. New materials described in this issue may bring practical magnetocaloric cooling a step closer. A large magnetic entropy change has been found to occur in MnFeP_0.45As_0.55 at room temperature, making it an attractive candidate for commercial applications in magnetic refrigeration.

Transition-metal-based magnetic refrigerants for room-temperature applications
O. TEGUS, E. BR�CK, K. H. J. BUSCHOW & F. R. DE BOER
Nature 415, 150–152 (10 January 2002)
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