Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in RCr0.3Ge2 (R = Ho, Er) compounds

S Shihao Li (Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences) J Jiawang Xu (Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University Hefei 1 , Anhui 230601,) L Lei Xi S Shouyuan Xing (Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University Hefei 1 , Anhui 230601,) J Junchao Sheng (Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University Hefei 1 , Anhui 230601,) Y Yao Liu X Xucai Kan (School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University 6 , Hefei 230601,) Y Yawei Gao (Chemical Science Division) X Xinqi Zheng (School of Materials Science and Engineering) S Shiming Zhou (Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Key Laboratory of Strongly-Coupled Quantum Matter Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Surface and Interface Chemistry and Energy Catalysis of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Chemical Physics) S Shouguo Wang B Baogen Shen (Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Polycrystalline RCr0.3Ge2 (R = Ho, Er) compounds exhibiting magnetic transitions in the liquid helium temperature region were successfully synthesized, and their magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects (MCEs) were systematically investigated. Both compounds exhibit antiferromagnetic ordering with Néel temperature (TN) of 7.3 and 3.4 K, respectively. Notably, HoCr0.3Ge2 and ErCr0.3Ge2 compounds demonstrate large reversible MCEs characterized by negligible thermal and magnetic hysteresis. Under a magnetic field change of 0–5 T, the maximum magnetic entropy changes [(−ΔSM)max] reach 9.0 and 9.9 J/kg K for HoCr0.3Ge2 and ErCr0.3Ge2 compounds, respectively, accompanied by considerable refrigeration capacities of 118.1 and 111.0 J/kg. The combination of significant MCE performance and excellent reversibility near 4.2 K positions these materials as highly promising candidates for practical cryogenic magnetic refrigeration.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 139, Issue 23
Published June 21, 2026
ISSN 0021-8979
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Journal of Applied Physics

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0021-8979 Physical Sciences

Authors (12)

S

Shihao Li

Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences

J

Jiawang Xu

Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University Hefei 1 , Anhui 230601,

L

Lei Xi

S

Shouyuan Xing

Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University Hefei 1 , Anhui 230601,

J

Junchao Sheng

Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University Hefei 1 , Anhui 230601,

Y

Yao Liu

X

Xucai Kan

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University 6 , Hefei 230601,

Y

Yawei Gao

Chemical Science Division

X

Xinqi Zheng

School of Materials Science and Engineering

S

Shiming Zhou

Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, Key Laboratory of Strongly-Coupled Quantum Matter Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences, National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Surface and Interface Chemistry and Energy Catalysis of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Department of Chemical Physics

S

Shouguo Wang

B

Baogen Shen

Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences