Magnetic properties and large magnetocaloric effect in Ho2Cu2In and Ho2Au2In compounds

The magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Ho2Cu2In and Ho2Au2In have been investigated. A second-order magnetic phase transition from a paramagnetic to a ferromagnetic state was observed for Ho2Cu2In and Ho2Au2In at Curie temperatures of T (C) similar to 30 and 21 K, respectively. An additional magnetic transition at 8 K was also observed for Ho2Au2In which is probably related to a spin reorientation phenomenon. A large reversible magnetocaloric effect was observed for both compounds. The maximum values of magnetic entropy change (-Delta S (M) (max) ) are 21.9 and 15.8 J/kg K under a field change of 0-7 T for Ho2Cu2In and Ho2Au2In, with the values of the relative cooling power of 638 and 490 J/kg, respectively.