B02

Prototype thin film systems and multilayers of the magnetocaloric materials (Mn₃GaC phase and Fe₂AlB₂ MAB phase) with thin FM and AFM layers will be prepared. The magnetocaloric properties will be controlled by exchange coupling between the magnetocaloric material and a ferromagnetic (FM) or antiferromagnetic (AFM) material. To maximize the adiabatic temperature change and tune the transition temperature different elemental dopants will be tested and the magnetic response characterized together with projects A03, B05 and A04. In this way, we aim to match the AFM/FM and FM/PM phase transitions in Mn₃GaC and engineer the quasi 2^nd order phase transition in Fe₂AlB₂ towards a 1^st order transition for magnetic refrigeration in close interaction with project B03.