Magnetic properties and magneto-caloric performances in RECo2B2C (RE = Gd, Tb and Dy) compounds

We present a detailed investigation of the crystal structure, magnetism and magneto-caloric performances of RECo2B2C (RE = Gd, Tb and Dy) compounds. All compounds are described with a LuNi2B2C-type crystallographic structure (I4/mmm space group). A second-ordered paramagnetic to ferromagnetic (PM-FM) transition is observed in RECo2B2C compounds around their Curie temperatures (TC) of 17.2, 5.3 and 7.7 K, and induced a considerable magneto-caloric effect (MCE) for GdCo2B2C, TbCo2B2C and DyCo2B2C, respectively. The magneto-caloric performances for RECo2B2C were characterized by the isothermal magnetic entropy ( - Δ S M max ) , temperature averaged entropy change (TEC) with three different temperature lifts (3, 5 and 10 K), and relative cooling power (RCP). The corresponding values of - Δ S M max , TEC (3 K) and RCP under the magnetic field change (ΔH) of 0–5 T, are 10.34 J/kg-K, 10.23 J/kg-K, and 238.1 J/kg for GdCo2B2C, 18.09 J/kg-K, 17.83 J/kg-K, and 438.2 J/kg for TbCo2B2C, as well as 17.79 J/kg-K, 17.72 J/kg-K, and 480.1 J/kg for DyCo2B2C, respectively.