Search

Abstract It is well known that rare earth (RE) based intermetallic compounds reveal various interesting magnetic properties depending on the crystallized structures and the constituent elements, paving the way for potential applications in different fields. Recent progresses regarding magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in ternary rare earth RE 2 T 2 X (RE = Gd-Tm; T = Cu, Ni, Co; and X = Cd, In, Ga, Sn, Al) intermetallic compounds are reviewed in this paper. Some of them exhibit excellent MCE performances which make them attractive in the field of magnetic refrigeration at low temperature. With the aim of understanding the magnetocaloric characteristics of RE 2 T 2 X compounds, the crystal structure, magnetism and magnetic phase transition are also focused. The origin of the MCE together with the physics behind and the potential application of RE 2 T 2 X compounds are thoroughly considered. Highlights • Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties in RE 2 T2X compounds are reviewed. • The RE 2 T2X compounds show four types of crystallize structures. • Some of them exhibit excellent cryogenic magnetocaloric performances. • The origin of magnetocaloric effect in RE 2 T2X compounds is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The gallides RE 2 Rh 3 Ga (RE = Gd, Dy, Ho, Er) compounds are fabricated. • The structural, MPT and magnetocaloric properties in RE 2 Rh 3 Ga were studied. • The present RE 2 Rh 3 Ga compound are considerable for cryogenic MR. We herein provide an experimental investigation of the gallides RE 2 Rh 3 Ga (RE = Gd, Dy, Ho, Er) regarding their magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE). All of these RE 2 Rh 3 Ga intermetallic compounds crystallized with the Mg 2 Ni 3 Si type structure, space group R– 3 m and are ordered magnetically at low temperatures. Large reversible MCEs around their own ordering temperature were observed in all RE 2 Rh 3 Ga compounds and their magnetocaloric parameters including the maximum magnetic entropy change, refrigerant capacity, and temperature-averaged entropy change are comparable to those of some recently reported candidate materials with prominent performances, making them considerable for cryogenic MR applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]