Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the ternary cadmium based intermetallic compounds of Gd2Cu2Cd and Er2Cu2Cd.

The magnetic properties, magnetocaloric effect (MCE) and universal behaviour of ternary Cadmium compounds Gd 2 Cu 2 Cd and Er 2 Cu 2 Cd have been investigated systematically. A second order magnetic phase transition from a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic state is observed for Gd 2 Cu 2 Cd and Er 2 Cu 2 Cd at their own Curie temperatures of T C ∼120 and 36 K, respectively. A large reversible MCE occurs near its own T C for both compounds. The maximum values of magnetic entropy change (−Δ S M max ) are 10.1 and 19.1 J/kg K under a magnetic field change of 0–7 T with no obviously hysteresis loss for Gd 2 Cu 2 Cd and Er 2 Cu 2 Cd, respectively. The corresponding values of refrigerant capacity ( RC ) and relative cooling power ( RCP ) are evaluated to be 386 and 373 J/kg, and to be 525 and 489 J/kg, respectively. The rescaled magnetic entropy change curves collapse onto a single curve for various magnetic fields, further confirming the Gd 2 Cu 2 Cd and Er 2 Cu 2 Cd compounds with the second order phase transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]