Large magnetocaloric effect in Er_(2)O_(3) compounds at cryogenic temperature

We investigated the magnetocaloric effect in commercial Er_(2)O_(3) powders which presents almost no hysteresis losses at low temperature.At a magnetic field change of 5 T,it displays large magnetic entropy change(-ΔSM)max of 15.02 J/(kg·K)and a refrigerant capacity(RC)of 311 J/K at Neel temperature TN=3.32 K.The magnetic transition was found to be of a second-order.The maximum values of adiabatic temperature change(ΔTad)max reach 0.70 K for a magnetic field change of 1 T.The large value,of(-ASM)max as well as no hysteresis loss,makes Er_(2)O_(3) a promising material as a magnetic refrigerant at low temperature.