Large magnetocaloric effect in a wide temperature range induced by two successive magnetic phase transitions in Ho2Cu2Cd compound

The magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Ho2Cu2Cd compound have been studied. The compound reveals two successive magnetic phase transitions at 30 K and 15 K which are corresponding to the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition and a spin reorientation, respectively. Two successive magnetic transitions in Ho2Cu2Cd resulting two peaks in the temperature dependence of magnetic entropy change curves, -Delta S-M (T). Two peaks are partly overlapped and induced a large MCE in a wide temperature range, i.e., large refrigerant capacity (RC) and relative cooling power (RCP). For a magnetic field change of 0-7 T, the values of maximal -Delta S-M, RC and RCP are 25.1 J/kg K, 527 J/kg and 732 J/kg for Ho2Cu2Cd, respectively. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.