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The rare-earths (RE) based amorphous materials with large magnetocaloric (MC) effects and excellent glass forming ability (GFA) have been recognized as promising candidates for magnetic refrigeration (MR). In this work, the RE 60 Co 20 Al 20 (RE = Ho, Er, Tm) amorphous ribbons were successfully fabricated and systematically determined with respect to the GFA, magnetic properties and MC effects. A second order magnetic phase transition (MPT) from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic (FM to PM) without noticeable field or thermal hysteresis has been observed around the Curie temperatures, T C ~ 22.3 K for Ho 60 Co 20 Al 20 , ~ 10.3 K for Er 60 Co 20 Al 20 , and ~ 5.0 K for Tm 60 Co 20 Al 20 , respectively. The MC parameters including the maximum magnetic entropy change (| Δ S M max |), temperature-averaged entropy change with 3 K lift [ TEC (3 K)], and relative cooling powder/refrigerant capacity (RCP/RC) have been determined to check the MC performances, and the corresponding values are determined to be 14.16, 15.57 and 15.06 J/kgK, to be14.04, 15.38 and 14.78 J/kgK, and to be 625.0/478.7, 505.7/391.8 and 334.0/243.4 J/kg for Ho 60 Co 20 Al 20 , Er 60 Co 20 Al 20 and Tm 60 Co 20 Al 20 under the field change Δμ 0 H = 5 T, respectively. The present results indicate that RE 60 Co 20 Al 20 (RE = Ho, Er, Tm) amorphous ribbons are considerable for cryogenic MR application. • The RE 60 Co 20 Al 20 (RE = Ho, Er, Tm) amorphous ribbons are fabricated. • The glass forming ability in RE 60 Co 20 Al 20 amorphous ribbons was investigated. • Large magnetocaloric effect in RE 60 Co 20 Al 20 has been observed. • RE 60 Co 20 Al 20 ribbons are considerable for cryogenic magnetic refrigeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetic refrigeration (MR) by utilizing the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of magnetic solids has been considered a promising, environmentally benign, energy-efficient cooling technology. However, the lack of promising magnetic substances has slowed the development of its active application. To identify suitable candidate materials, we herein identified the structural and magnetic properties together with the MCE and magnetocaloric performances of rare earth (RE) rich RE 6 Ni 2.25 Al 0.75 (RE = Dy, Ho and Er) compounds. All the RE 6 Ni 2.25 Al 0.75 compounds are confirmed to crystallized in orthogonal Ho 6 Co 2 Ga-type structure and underwent paramagnetic to antiferromagnetic magnetic transitions. Moreover, large direct (conventional) and inverse MCEs have been observed in all the RE 6 Ni 2.25 Al 0.75 compounds. The values of peak magnetic entropy changes, temperature-averaged magnetic entropy changes with 5 K-lift and relative cooling powers under magnetic field change of 0–7 T are evaluated to be − 4.44 J/kg-K, − 4.38 J/kg-K and 230.6 J/kg for Dy 6 Ni 2.25 Al 0.75 , to be − 12.68 J/kg-K, − 12.26 J/kg-K and 378.2 J/kg for Ho 6 Ni 2.25 Al 0.75 , and to be − 17.52 J/kg-K, − 17.33 J/kg-K and 465.7 J/kg for Er 6 Ni 2.25 Al 0.75 , respectively. • The RE6Ni2.25Al0.75 (RE = Dy, Ho and Er) compounds are fabricated. • The structural and magnetic properties were investigated. • Large direct and inverse magnetocaloric effects were observed. • The Er6Ni2.25Al0.75 is considerable for cryogenic magnetic refrigeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]