In-operando test of tunable Heusler alloys for thermomagnetic harvesting of low-grade waste heat

Thermomagnetic generation stands out as a promising technology for harvesting and converting low-grade waste heat below 100°C. Despite the exponential growth in research on thermomagnetic materials and prototypes over the last decade, there remains, to unlock the full potential of this technology, a critical gap between fundamental research on materials and the design of advanced devices.

In this study, we present the in-operando assessment of thermomagnetic performance of three representative Ni,Mn-based Heusler alloys optimized for harvesting low-grade waste heat below 373 K. These materials were tested under operational conditions using a specially designed laboratory-scale prototype of a thermomagnetic motor. The mechanical power output of the motor, operated with NiMnIn, NiMnSn and NiMnCuGa alloys, was correlated with the magnetic properties of the materials, highlighting the critical role of the magnetic transition temperature and saturation magnetization in determining the efficiency of thermomagnetic energy conversion. Austenitic Heusler alloys were confirmed to be promising thermomagnetic materials due to their highly tunable Curie temperature and significant magnetization changes in the 300–360 K temperature range. Among the tested materials, the Ni₄₈Mn₃₆In₁₆ alloy demonstrated the highest thermomagnetic performance, surpassing the benchmark material Gd in the 320–340 K range. From an experimental perspective, the developed prototype of thermomagnetic motor serves as a flexible test-bench for evaluating and comparing the thermomagnetic performance of small amounts (less than 0.3 g) of new materials under variable conditions. Additionally, its modular design facilitates testing and optimization of its various components, thereby contributing to the advancement of thermomagnetic motor technology.