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Giant barocaloric effect enhanced by the frustration of the antiferromagnetic phase in Mn3GaN

Nature Materials volume 14, pages 73–78 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

First-order phase transitions are accompanied by a latent heat. Consequently, manipulating them by means of an external field causes a caloric effect. Although transitions from antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic states are not controlled by a magnetic field, a large barocaloric effect is expected when strong cross-correlations between the volume and magnetic order occur. Here we examine how geometric frustration in itinerant antiferromagnetic compounds can enhance the barocaloric effect. We study the thermodynamic behaviour of the frustrated antiferromagnet Mn3GaN, and report an entropy change of 22.3 J kg−1 K−1 that is concomitant with a hydrostatic pressure change of 139 MPa. Furthermore, the calculated value of the adiabatic temperature change reaches 5 K by depressurization of 93 MPa. The giant barocaloric effect in Mn3GaN is caused by a frustration-driven enhancement of the ratio of volume change against the pressure coefficient of the Néel temperature. This mechanism for enhancing the barocaloric effect can form the basis for a new class of materials for solid-state refrigerants.

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Figure 1: DTA curve as a function of temperature in Mn3GaN.
Figure 2: Entropy as a function of temperature in Mn3GaN.
Figure 3: Temperature dependence of ΔS of Mn3GaN.
Figure 4: Adiabatic temperature change in Mn3GaN.
Figure 5: Schematic representations of spin structures in Mn3GaN (111).

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science through the Funding Program for Next Generation World-Leading Researchers.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Materials Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8579, Japan

    Daichi Matsunami & Mika Kano

  2. Green Magnetic Material Research Center, AIST Chubu, 2266-98 Anagahora, Shimo-Shidami, Moriyama-ku, Nagoya 463-8560, Japan

    Asaya Fujita

  3. Department of Applied Physics, Nagoya University, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan

    Koshi Takenaka

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  1. Daichi Matsunami
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Contributions

D.M. performed the measurements, analysed the results, and wrote the manuscript. A.F. conceived the idea for the work and directed the research. K.T. provided advice on the conditions required to fabricate good samples and was involved in discussions with regard to the enhanced volume change. M.K. suggested the method of pressure measurement. All authors discussed the results and worked on the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Daichi Matsunami.

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Matsunami, D., Fujita, A., Takenaka, K. et al. Giant barocaloric effect enhanced by the frustration of the antiferromagnetic phase in Mn3GaN. Nature Mater 14, 73–78 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat4117

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