Abstract: Ni-Mn-Ti Heusler alloys have great potential for elastocaloric refrigeration due to the colossal caloric effect and good mechanical properties. However, theoretical calculations on the characterization of the elastocaloric effect are rare. An important parameter to evaluate the elastocaloric effect is the transformation entropy change, whose main source is the vibrational entropy change (ΔS_vib). Unfortunately, the widely used quasiharmonic approximation method fails in the prediction of the vibrational entropy for high-temperature austenite due to its dynamical instability at 0 K. To solve this problem, the temperature dependent effective potential method was used considering the temperature and anharmonic effect. Sc, V, and Zr doping at the Ti sites in B2 disordered Ni₈Mn₅Ti₃ were studied about phase stability, martensitic transformation, and elastocaloric properties. The results revealed the austenitic structures of all the doping systems exhibit antiferromagnetic coupling characteristics at 300 K due to the temperature effect. Sc and Zr doping at the Ti sites decreased the ΔS_vib value, whereas V doping at the Ti site increased the ΔS_vib value. Further analysis proved the important evaluation criterion that the ΔS_vib value increases with the tetragonal distortion ratio and volume change, which has important guiding significance for improving the elastocaloric effect. Besides, the calculations of elastic constants presented all the doping systems maintain outstanding ductility evaluated from the B/G ratio. This work provides an effective strategy for designing excellent elastocaloric material with large vibrational entropy change and good mechanical properties.

Key words: Ni-Mn-Ti, Element doping, First-principles calculations, Temperature dependent effective potential, Elastocaloric properties