Magnetocaloric Effect in Intermetallic Compounds with Rare-Earth and Transition Metals: From Fundamental Aspects to Functional Applications

The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) is a change in the temperature of a magnetic material when exposed to an external magnetic field. In recent decades, the MCE has attracted the attention of researchers due to the potential for implementing energy-efficient and environmentally friendly magnetic cooling technology as an alternative to traditional vapor-compression systems. This article provides an overview of the physical basis of the magnetocaloric effect and the development of magnetic cooling, discusses the most effective materials, including intermetallic compounds with the Laves phase and rare-earth alloys, and outlines the prospects for their application, including those in cryogenic engineering and the liquefaction of natural gases. Special attention is paid to a critical analysis of the challenges associated with the hysteresis, phase stability, and scaling of technologies.