Giant magnetocaloric effect of MnAs1-xSbx in the vicinity of first-order magnetic transition

Abstract The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of Mn AS 1− x Sb x has been examined for 0⩽ x ⩽0.3. The magnetic entropy change caused by a magnetic field of Mn AS 1− x Sb x reaches 25–30 J/K kg, which is about twice as large as those of conventional materials near room temperature. The origin of the large MCE of Mn AS 1− x Sb x is unusual magnetic behavior in the vicinity of the first-order magnetic transition.