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- ItemReducing the nucleation barrier in magnetocaloric Heusler alloys by nanoindentation(New York : American Institute of Physics, 2016) Niemann, R.; Hahn, S.; Diestel, A.; Backen, A.; Schultz, L.; Nielsch, K.; Wagner, M.F.-X.; Fähler, S.Magnetocaloric materials are promising as solid state refrigerants for more efficient and environmentally friendly cooling devices. The highest effects have been observed in materials that exhibit a first-order phase transition. These transformations proceed by nucleation and growth which lead to a hysteresis. Such irreversible processes are undesired since they heat up the material and reduce the efficiency of any cooling application. In this article, we demonstrate an approach to decrease the hysteresis by locally changing the nucleation barrier. We created artificial nucleation sites and analyzed the nucleation and growth processes in their proximity. We use Ni-Mn-Ga, a shape memory alloy that exhibits a martensitic transformation. Epitaxial films serve as a model system, but their high surface-to-volume ratio also allows for a fast heat transfer which is beneficial for a magnetocaloric regenerator geometry. Nanoindentation is used to create a well-defined defect. We quantify the austenite phase fraction in its proximity as a function of temperature which allows us to determine the influence of the defect on the transformation.
- ItemElectrodeposition of Fe70Pd30 nanowires from a complexed ammonium-sulfosalicylic electrolyte with high stability(Amsterdam : Elsevier, 2010) Haehnel, V.; Fähler, S.; Schultz, L.; Schlörb, H.A highly stable plating bath for the electrodeposition of Fe-Pd nanowires into nanoporous alumina templates has been developed. Complexing of both metal ions and exchanging Fe2+ by Fe3+ avoid chemical reduction of Pd ions and, therefore, undesirable deposition. By using a pulse potential mode and appropriate adjustment of deposition potentials homogeneously filled templates without surface deposits and nanowires close to the desired composition of Fe70Pd30 have been achieved. These alloy nanowires represent a key step towards nanoactuators based on magnetic shape memory alloys. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.