Giant Elastocaloric Effect in Ni-Mn-Ga-Based Alloys Boosted by a Large Lattice Volume Change upon the Martensitic Transformation.

High-performance elastocaloric materials are highly sought in developing energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solid-state elastocaloric refrigeration. Here, we present an effective strategy to achieve a giant elastocaloric response by enlarging the lattice volume change ΔV/V0 upon the martensitic transformation. Using the Ni50Mn50 binary alloy as the prototype, a large transformation entropy change ΔStr can be tailored in the vicinity of room temperature by simultaneously doping Cu and Ga. Especially, the |ΔStr| values in the ⟨001⟩A-textured Ni30Cu20Mn39.5Ga10.5 and Ni30Cu20Mn39Ga11 alloys prepared by directional solidification can be as large as 47.5 and 46.7 Jkg-1 K-1, respectively, due to the significant ΔV/V0 values, i.e., 1.81 and 1.82%, respectively. Such enhanced ΔStr values thus yield giant ΔTad values of up to -23.5 and -19.3 K on removing the compressive stress in these two alloys, being much higher than those in Heusler-type alloys reported previously. Moreover, owing to the relatively low driving stress endowed by the highly textured microstructure, the specific adiabatic temperature change (|ΔTad/Δσmax|) in the present work can be as large as 77.2 K/GPa. This work is expected to provide new routes in designing high-performance elastocaloric materials with the combination of a giant elastocaloric response and low driving stress.

A Low-Cost Ni-Mn-Ti-B High-Temperature Shape Memory Alloy with Extraordinary Functional Properties.

The rapid development of aerospace, automotive, and energy exploration industries urgently requires high-temperature shape memory alloys (HTSMAs) which are utilized as compact solid-state actuators, sensors, and energy conversion devices at elevated temperatures. However, the currently prevailing Ni-Ti-X (X = Pd, Pt, and Hf) HTSMAs are very expensive owing to the high cost of Pd, Pt, and Hf elements, which greatly limits their widespread applications. Here, we have developed an inexpensive (Ni50Mn35.5Ti14.5)99.8B0.2 bulk polycrystalline HTSMA with extraordinary high-temperature superelasticity and a giant two-way shape memory effect (TWSME). This alloy exhibits perfect superelasticity with a fully recoverable strain of as high as 7.1% over a wide temperature range from 150 to 280 °C. Furthermore, it shows a giant TWSME with a remarkably high recoverable strain of 6.0%. Both the recoverable strain of superelasticity and the two-way shape memory strain of the present alloy are the highest among the bulk polycrystalline HTSMAs. The theoretical maximum transformation strain was calculated with energy-minimization theory using the crystal structure information of martensite and austenite obtained from in situ synchrotron high-energy X-ray diffraction experiments to help understand the superelastic behavior of the present alloy. Combining the advantages of low cost and easy fabrication, the present bulk polycrystalline (Ni50Mn35.5Ti14.5)99.8B0.2 alloy shows great potential for high-temperature shape memory applications. This work is instructive for developing cost-effective high-performance HTSMAs.

Unprecedented non-hysteretic superelasticity of [001]-oriented NiCoFeGa single crystals.

Superelasticity associated with the martensitic transformation has found a broad range of engineering applications1,2. However, the intrinsic hysteresis3 and temperature sensitivity4 of the first-order phase transformation significantly hinder the usage of smart metallic components in many critical areas. Here, we report a large superelasticity up to 15.2% strain in [001]-oriented NiCoFeGa single crystals, exhibiting non-hysteretic mechanical responses, a small temperature dependence and high-energy-storage capability and cyclic stability over a wide temperature and composition range. In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements show that the superelasticity is correlated with a stress-induced continuous variation of lattice parameter accompanied by structural fluctuation. Neutron diffraction and electron microscopy observations reveal an unprecedented microstructure consisting of atomic-level entanglement of ordered and disordered crystal structures, which can be manipulated to tune the superelasticity. The discovery of the large elasticity related to the entangled structure paves the way for exploiting elastic strain engineering and development of related functional materials.

Magnetic field-induced magnetostructural transition and huge tensile superelasticity in an oligocrystalline Ni-Cu-Co-Mn-In microwire.

Meta-magnetic shape-memory alloys combine ferroelastic order with ferromagnetic order and exhibit attractive multifunctional properties, but they are extremely brittle, showing hardly any tensile deformability, which impedes their practical application. Here, for the first time, an Ni-Cu-Co-Mn-In microwire has been developed that simultaneously exhibits a magnetic field-induced first-order meta-magnetic phase transition and huge tensile superelasticity. A temperature-dependent in situ synchrotron high-energy X-ray diffraction investigation reveals that the martensite of this Ni43.7Cu1.5Co5.1Mn36.7In13 microwire shows a monoclinic six-layered modulated structure and the austenite shows a cubic structure. This microwire exhibits an oligocrystalline structure with bamboo grains, which remarkably reduces the strain incompatibility during deformation and martensitic transformation. As a result, huge tensile superelasticity with a recoverable strain of 13% is achieved in the microwire. This huge tensile superelasticity is in agreement with our theoretical calculations based on the crystal structure and lattice correspondence of austenite and martensite and the crystallographic orientation of the grains. Owing to the large magnetization difference between austenite and martensite, a pronounced magnetic field-induced magnetostructural transition is achieved in the microwire, which could give rise to a variety of magnetically driven functional properties. For example, a large magnetocaloric effect with an isothermal entropy change of 12.7 J kg-1 K-1 (under 5 T) is obtained. The realization of magnetic-field- and tensile-stress-induced structural transformations in the microwire may pave the way for exploiting the multifunctional properties under the coupling of magnetic field and stress for applications in miniature multifunctional devices.

Colossal Elastocaloric Effect in Ferroelastic Ni-Mn-Ti Alloys.

Energy-efficient and environment-friendly elastocaloric refrigeration, which is a promising replacement of the conventional vapor-compression refrigeration, requires extraordinary elastocaloric properties. Hitherto the largest elastocaloric effect is obtained in small-size films and wires of the prototype NiTi system. Here, we report a colossal elastocaloric effect, well exceeding that of NiTi alloys, in a class of bulk polycrystalline NiMn-based materials designed with the criterion of simultaneously having large volume change across phase transition and good mechanical properties. The reversible adiabatic temperature change reaches a strikingly high value of 31.5 K and the isothermal entropy change is as large as 45 J kg^{-1} K^{-1}. The achievement of such a colossal elastocaloric effect in bulk polycrystalline materials should push a significant step forward towards large-scale elastocaloric refrigeration applications. Moreover, our design strategy may inspire the discovery of giant caloric effects in a broad range of ferroelastic materials.

Achieving Superior Two-Way Actuation by the Stress-Coupling of Nanoribbons and Nanocrystalline Shape Memory Alloy.

Inspired by the driving principle of traditional bias-type two-way actuators, we developed a novel two-way actuation nanocomposite wire in which a massive number of Nb nanoribbons with ultralarge elastic strains are loaded inside a shape memory alloy (SMA) matrix to form a continuous array of nanobias actuation pairs for two-way actuation. The composite exhibits a two-way actuation strain of 3.2% during a thermal cycle and an actuation stress of 934 MPa upon heating, which is about twice as high as that (∼500 MPa) found in reported two-way SMAs. Upon cooling, the composite shows an actuation stress of 134 MPa and a mechanical work output of 1.08 × 10(6) J/m(3), which are about three and five times higher than those of reported two-way SMAs, respectively. It was revealed that the massive number of Nb nanoribbons in the compressive state provides the high actuation stress and high work output upon cooling, and the SMA matrix with high yield strength offers the high actuation stress upon heating. Compared to traditional bias-type two-way actuators, the two-way actuation composite with a small volume and simple construct works well with the miniaturization and simplification of actuators.