Giant magnetocaloric effect in antiferromagnetic DyVO4 compound

We have investigated the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of DyVO4 by magnetization and heat capacity measurements chi(T) shows antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition at T-N(Dy) similar to 3.5 K. The compound undergoes a metamagnetic transition and exhibits a huge entropy change. The maximum values of magnetic entropy change (Delta S-M), adiabatic temperature change (Delta T-ad) and refrigerant capacity (RC) reach 26 J kg(-1) K-1, 17 K, and 526 J kg(-1), respectively for a field change of 0-8 T. Moreover, the material is highly insulating and exhibits no thermal and field hysteresis, satisfying the necessary conditions for a good magnetic refrigerant material. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.