Magnetocaloric effect in a multicomponent Laves phase intermetallic compound Gd0.2Tb0.2Dy0.2Ho0.2Er0.2Al2

A multicomponent Laves phase intermetallic compound Gd0.2Tb0.2Dy0.2Ho0.2Er0.2Al2 has been synthesized and characterized by means of magnetization measurements. The sample Gd0.2Tb0.2Dy0.2Ho0.2Er0.2Al2 crystallizes in MgCu2− type cubic structure (space group Fd-3m) at 300 K. Magnetization data reveal a paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition at about 80 K (TC). Paramagnetic susceptibility obeys Curie-Weiss law. Magnetization vs field (M-H) data at 2 K indicate saturation behaviour with negligible hysteresis. The saturation magnetization value at 2 K is ∼8.6 µB/f.u. Magnetocaloric effect has been estimated using M-H data obtained in the neighbourhood of TC. Maximum isothermal magnetic entropy change is found to be µ -11 Jkg−1K−1 at 72.5 K for a field change of 50 kOe and a large refrigeration capacity of about 750 J/kg is obtained. Observation of normal magnetocaloric effect and the saturated magnetic moment value at 2 K suggest long range ferromagnetic order in this multicomponent system.