Magnetocaloric Effect In The Metamagnet Errhsi Compound

The magnetocaloric effect is observed in the 1: 1: 1 compound ErRhSi, which is a metamagnet is reported in this paper. ErRhSi crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma, adopting the TiNiSi structure type, with lattice parameters a(angstrom) = 6.7903(5), b(angstrom) = 4.1881(3), and c(angstrom) = 7.3847(4). Our magnetic measurements confirm an antiferromagnetic phase transition at T-N approximate to 8.5 K, also supported by the specific heat measurement. Crystal field effects of Er3+ are suggested by the inverse magnetic susceptibility data which do not conform to an ideal Curie-Weiss behaviour and also by the total entropy that attains Rln (2) at T-N. Although the magnetic hysteresis indicates ErRhSi to be a soft magnet, several clear metamagnetic features are observed at 2K. Magnetic entropy change Delta S-M = -8.7 J/kg-K is observed at about 9K with the application of 5 T magnetic field. The corresponding adiabatic temperature change Delta T-ad is about 4K. Large magnetocaloric effects suggest that this material is suitable for the low temperature magnetic refrigeration. Published by AIP Publishing.