Control of Working Temperature of Isothermal Magnetic Entropy Change in La0.8Nd0.2(Fe0.88Si0.12)13 by Hydrogen Absorption for Magnetic Refrigerants

$La_{1-z}Nd_z(Fe_{0.88}Si_{0.12})_{13}$ and their hydrides were investigated to obtain large magnetocaloric effects (MCEs) in a wide temperature range, including room temperature, for applications in magnetic refrigents. Since the magnetization change due to the itinerant-electron metamagentic (IEM) transition for $La_{1-z}Nd_z(Fe_{0.88}Si_{0.12})_{13}$ becomes larger with increasing z, the isothermal magnetic entropy change ${\Delta}S_m$ and the relative cooling power (RCP) are enhanced. In addition, the Curie temperatrue $T_C$ of $La_{0.8}Nd_{0.2}(Fe_{0.88}Si_{0.12})_{13}$ is increased from 193 to 319 K by hydrogen absorption, with the IEM transition. The maximum value of $-{\Delta}S_m$, $-{\Delta}S{_m}^{max}$, in a magnetic field change of 2 T for $La_{0.8}Nd_{0.2}(Fe_{0.88}Si_{0.12})_{13}H_{1.1}$ is about 23 J/kg K at $T_C$ = 288 K, which is larger than that of 19 J/kg K at $T_C$ = 276 K for $La(Fe_{0.88}Si_{0.12})_{13}H_{1.0}$. The value of RCP = 179 J/kg of the former is also larger than 160 J/kg of the latter. It is concluded that the partial substitution of Nd improves MCEs in a wide temperautre range, including room temperature.