利用电弧熔炼制备出单相的TmGa化合物,TmGa显示了两个连续的相变:在11.5 K处为反铁磁到反铁磁(AFMΙ-AFMΠ)相变,在15 K处为反铁磁到顺磁(AFMΠ-PM)相变。反铁磁区域存在场诱导的反铁磁到铁磁(AFM-FM)变磁转变。虽然TmGa的基态是反铁磁,但是当在较低磁场(0.02 T)下,在12 K附近诱导出铁磁态,因此在一定磁化强度范围内存在AFMΙ-FM,FM-AFMП和AFMП-PM相变。当磁场为0.2 T时AFMΠ态完全消失,AFM-PM的转变成为FM-PM的转变。低温AFMΙ态随磁场的变化是不可逆的,而AFMΠ态随磁场的变化是可逆的。根据温度和磁场的变化绘制了TmGa的磁相图。TmGa在相变温度附近具有较大的磁熵变(-ΔSM),当磁场变化为5 T时,最大-ΔSM为34.2J·kg^-1·K^-1。值得注意的是,在磁场变化为1和2 T时,最大-ΔSM分别为12.9和20.7 J·kg^-1·K^-1。同时通过计算得到在1,2和5 T下的磁制冷能力(RC)分别为69,149和364 J·kg^-1。TmGa化合物作为低温磁制冷材料潜在巨大应用前景。
TmGa alloy was prepared by arc melting. TmGa exhibited two successive magnetic transitions at temperatures,TAF= 11. 5K antiferromagnetic(AFMΙ) to AFMΠand TN= 15 K AFMΠto paramagnetic(PM). A field-induced metamagnetic transition AFM-FM states was observed. Although the ground state remained AFM for TmGa,the ferromagnetic(FM) state could be induced by a magnetic field at about 12 K under relatively low field change of 0. 02 T. So the transitions AFMΙ-FM,FM-AFMПand AFMП-PM were observed in a certain magnetic field,and the AFMΠstate completely disappeared under 0. 2 T. The transition from low temperature AFM state(AFMI) to FM state induced by a magnetic field was irreversible. On the contrary,the transition from high temperature AFM state(AFMII) to FM state was reversible. A magnetic phase diagram was made based on the magnetic measurement. Additionally,TmGa compound exhibited an excellent magnetocaloric effect(MCE) around transition temperature. Under field change of 5 T,the maximum values of magnetic entropy change-ΔSMwas 34. 2 J·kg^-1·K^-1. It was worth noting that under field changes of 1 and 2 T,the maximum values of-ΔSMwere 12. 9 and 20. 7 J·kg^-1·K^-1,meanwhile,large values of refrigerant capacity(RC)(69,149 and 364J·kg^-1) were observed,respectively. It was expected to have effective applications in low temperature magnetic refrigeration.