Effect of Si/Ge ratio on resistivity and thermopower in Gd5SixGe4−x magnetocaloric compounds

Abstract The effect of Si/Ge ratio on resistivity and thermopower behavior has been investigated in the magnetocaloric ferromagnetic Gd5SixGe4−x compounds with x=1.7–2.3. Microstructural studies reveal the presence of Gd5(Si,Ge)4-matrix phase (5:4-type) along with traces of secondary phases (5:5 or 5:3-type). The x=1.7 and 2.0 samples display the presence of a first order structural transition from orthorhombic to monoclinic phase followed by a magnetic transition of the monoclinic phase. The alloys with x=2.2 and 2.3 display only magnetic transitions of the orthorhombic phase. A low temperature feature apparent in the AC susceptibility and resistivity data below 100 K reflects an antiferromagnetic transition of secondary phase(s) present in these compounds. The resistivity behavior study correlates with microstructural studies. A large change in thermopower of −8 μV/K was obtained at the magneto-structural transition for the x=2 compound.