Tunability of correlated magnetocaloric effect and magnetoresistance by Ar ion irradiation in a Gd-based nanocrystalline/amorphous alloy

The magnetocaloric effect and magnetoresistance (MR) of nanocrystalline/amorphous Gd₆₅Co₁₅Al₁₀Zr₁₀ alloy were investigated. The as-spun alloy shows a large maximum magnetic entropy change (MEC) of 5.4 Jkg⁻¹K⁻¹ under a field change of 5 T and a refrigerant capacity of 468.9 Jkg^-1. It is found that Ar ion irradiation increases the MEC and refrigerant capacity (RC) of the alloy, which is associated with the anisotropic stress and heating effects, increasing the atomic mobility and short-range order around Gd. Moreover, the maximum MEC shows a power-law (linear) relationship with the MR above (below) the Curie temperature for the as-spun ribbon, which alters after irradiation.