Large magnetocaloric effect in Er2O3 compounds at cryogenic temperature

• Published in: Journal of rare earths 2021-10, Vol.39 (10), p.1232-1237
• Main Authors: Elouafi, A., Derkaoui, S., Moubah, R., Tizliouine, A., Charkaoui, A., Lassri, H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Hysteresis losses; Magnetic refrigeration; Magnetocaloric effect; Rare earths; Second-order magnetic transition
• ISSN: 1002-0721; 2509-4963
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jre.2020.09.020

We investigated the magnetocaloric effect in commercial Er2O3 powders which presents almost no hysteresis losses at low temperature. At a magnetic field change of 5 T, it displays large magnetic entropy change (−ΔSM)max of 15.02 J/(kg.K) and a refrigerant capacity (RC) of 311 J/K at Néel temperature TN = 3.32 K. The magnetic transition was found to be of a second-order. The maximum values of adiabatic temperature change (ΔTad)max reach 0.70 K for a magnetic field change of 1 T. The large value, of (−ΔSM)max as well as no hysteresis loss, makes Er2O3 a promising material as a magnetic refrigerant at low temperature. Er2O3 is a thermally and chemically stable compound and has a second-order magnetic phase transition at cryogenic temperature of 3.34 K. The large values of magnetic entropy change (−ΔSM) max of 15.02 J/(kg·K) and of refrigerant capacity (RC) of 311 J/K as well as no hysteresis loss, make Er2O3 a promising material as a magnetic refrigerant at low temperature. [Display omitted]