Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of martensitic Ni2Mn1.4Sn0.6 Heusler alloy

The evolutions of magnetic properties at low temperatures and the influence of magnetic field on the temperature dependence of specific heat in martensitic Ni₂Mn_1.4Sn_0.6 Heusler alloy are studied. The frequency-dependent blocking temperature and considerable exchange bias below it are measured in the martensitic phase. From the analysis of the specific heat curves under magnetic field, a large inverse magnetocaloric effect manifested as the magnetic field induced rise of isothermal magnetic entropy and/or magnetic field induced adiabatic temperature decrease in the vicinity of the reverse magnetostructural transformation and a significant value of the conventional magnetocaloric effect at the Curie temperature are obtained. The Debye temperature and electronic coefficient equal to Θ_D=310±2 K and γ= 16.6±0.3 mJ/K²mol, respectively, do not depend on the magnetic field.