Magnetocaloric effect of compounds in Gd5−x Dy x Si2Ge2 system

Magnetization of magnetically ordered Gd5−x Dy x Si2Ge2 compounds with a partial substitution of Gd atoms by isovalent Dy atoms has been investigated. From temperature and field dependences of Gd5−x Dy x Si2Ge2 alloys with x = 0−2.0 changes of the magnetic part of entropy (ΔS M ) of alloys are determined. It is established that ΔS M achieves its maximum values at different temperatures, which linearly depend on the Dy concentration, and their values are comparable with ΔS max in Gd5Si2Ge2. The obtained data allow us to conclude that the above-mentioned compounds have high magnetocaloric effect and are promising materials for using as a combined working body of magnetic refrigerators operating in the 200–270 K range of temperatures.