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Mn8Ga5 alloy has certain significance in the study of materials for magnetic refrigeration applications due to its low coercivity. In this paper, the structure, magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects (MCE) of Mn8−xCrxGa5 (x = 1.3, 1.7) polycrystalline alloys were first studied by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique, scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersion (EDS) analysis and magnetization measurement. The two samples crystallized in a cubic (Zn8Cu5)-type structure with space group of I-43 m (No. 217). The lattice constants and crystallite sizes of Mn8−xCrxGa5 increase with the increase of Cr concentration. As the Cr content increases, the Curie temperature (Tc) of Mn8−xCrxGa5 (x = 1.3, 1.7) is increased from 145 to 187 K. The saturation magnetic moments of Mn8−xCrxGa5 are 33.8 (x = 1.3) and 36.6 (x = 1.7) emu/g under the magnetic field of 16 kOe at 80 K, respectively. A second-order magnetic phase transition occurred in Mn8−xCrxGa5 alloy samples. The maximum magnetic entropy changes (|∆SM|) of Mn8−xCrxGa5 are 0.9 (x = 1.3) and 0.8 J·kg−1·K−1 (x = 1.7), and the relative cooling power (RCP) values are 25 (x = 1.3) and 17 J/kg (x = 1.7) under 15 kOe magnetic field.

In this experiment, a series of MnCoGe1−xLax (x = 0, 0.01, 0.03) alloy samples were prepared using a vacuum arc melting method. The crystal structure and magnetic properties of alloys were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld method, physical property measurement system (PPMS), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analyses. The results show that all samples were of high-temperature Ni2In-type phases, belonging to space group P63/mmc (194) after 1373 K annealing. The results of Rietveld refinement revealed that the lattice constant and the volume of MnCoGe1−xLax increased along with the values of La constants. The magnetic measurement results show that the Curie temperatures (TC) of the MnCoGe1−xLax series alloys were 294, 281, and 278 K, respectively. The maximum magnetic entropy changes at 1.5T were 1.64, 1.53, and 1.56 J·kg−1·K−1, respectively. The respective refrigeration capacities (RC) were 60.68, 59.28, and 57.72J·kg−1, with a slight decrease along the series. The experimental results show that the doping of La results in decreased TC, basically unchanged magnetic entropy, and slightly decreased RC.