Structure, magnetism and magnetocaloric effects in Er5Si3B x (x = 0.3,0.6) compounds

Abstract

We investigate the structure, magnetic properties, magnetic phase transitions and magnetocaloric effects (MCEs) of Er5Si3B x (x = 0.3, 0.6) compounds. The Er5Si3B x (x = 0.3, 0.6) compounds crystalize in a Mn5Si3 type hexagonal structure (space group: P63/cm) and exhibit a successive complicated magnetic phase transition. The extensive magnetic phase transitions contribute to the broad temperature range of MCEs exhibiting in Er5Si3B x (x = 0.3, 0.6) compounds, with maximum magnetic entropy change ( − Δ S M max ) and refrigeration capacity of 10.2 J⋅kg−1⋅K−1, 356.3 J/kg and 11.5 J⋅kg−1⋅K−1, 393.3 J/kg under varying magnetic fields 0–5 T, respectively. Remarkably, the δT FWHM values (the temperature range corresponding to 1 2 × | − Δ S M max | ) of Er5Si3B x (x = 0.3, 0.6) compounds were up to 41.8 K and 39.6 K, respectively. Thus, the present work provides a potential magnetic refrigeration material with a broad temperature range MCEs for applications in cryogenic magnetic refrigerators.