Magnetocaloric and magnetoresistance properties of reentrant spin glass Tb2Ni0.94Si3.2 alloy

Magnetic, magnetocaloric, and magnetoresistance properties of polycrystalline Tb2Ni0.94Si3.2 alloy have been investigated. Magnetic susceptibilities (AC and DC), remanent magnetization and the heat capacity studies of Tb2Ni0.94Si3.2 provide evidence for the spin glass behavior below the temperature, Tf = 5.2 K. At the Néel temperature, TN = 12.7 K, Tb2Ni0.94Si3.2 alloy orders antiferromagnetically. The presence of metamagnetic transition is observed in isothermal magnetization and magnetoresistance studies. Also, a magnetoresistance of 22% is exhibited by the alloy at temperature T = 4 K in an applied magnetic field of 9 T. A magnetic entropy change of 12 J/kg K with the relative cooling power of 504 J/kg for a magnetic field change of 9 T is observed in the studied alloy. Influence of spin fluctuations and short-range ferromagnetic correlations is reflected in magnetoresistance and relative cooling power. The magnetic and magnetoresistance properties make this alloy as a good magnetocaloric material with moderate magnetoresistance.