Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in the HoNi sub(1-x)Cu sub(x)In (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.4) intermetallic compounds

The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in HoNi sub(1-x)Cu sub(x)In (x = 0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.4) compounds have been investigated. With the substitution of Cu for Ni, the Ho magnetic moment will cant from the c-axis, and form a complicated magnetic structure. These compounds exhibit two successive magnetic transitions with the increase in temperature. The large reversible magnetocaloric effects have been observed in HoNi sub(1-x)Cu sub(x)In compounds around T sub(ord), with no thermal and magnetic hysteresis loss. The large reversible isothermal magnetic entropy change (-[Delta]S sub(M)) is 20.2 J/kg K and the refrigeration capacity (RC) reaches 356.7 J/kg for field changes of 5 T for HoNi sub(0.7)Cu sub(0.3)In. Especially, the value of -[Delta]S sub(M) (12.5 J/kg K) and the large RC (132 J/kg) are observed for field changes of 2 T for HoNi sub(0.9)Cu sub(0.1)In. Additionally, the values of RC are improved to 149 J/K for the field changes of 2 T due to a wide temperature span for the mix of HoNi sub(0.9)Cu sub(0.1)In and HoNi sub(0.7)Cu sub(0.3)In compounds with the mass ratio of 1:1. These compounds with excellent MCE are expected to have effective applications in magnetic refrigeration around 20 K.