Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in quaternary boroncarbides compound ErNiBC.

The magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of quaternary intermetallic compound ErNiBC has been investigated by magnetization and heat capacity measurements. The compound undergoes a paramagnetic (PM) to ferromagnetic (FM) transition at T C ~5 K and the ground state of Er ion forms a Kramer's doublet state. The magnetic transition is found to be second order in nature. The maximum magnetic entropy change (−Δ S M max ) and adiabatic temperature change (Δ T ad max ) of ErNiBC are 24.8 J/kg K and 8.6 K, respectively, for a magnetic field change of 0–50 kOe, and the corresponding refrigerant capacity ( RC ) is 312 J/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]