Giant magnetocaloric effect in GdAlO3 and a comparative study with GdMnO3

The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect of polycrystalline GdAlO3 and GdMnO3 have been investigated to assess their potential usage as magnetic refrigerants at cryogenic temperatures. These compounds undergo antiferromagnetic transitions at low temperatures which are associated with the giant magnetic entropy change effect () ~40.9 J Kg K−1 under a field change of 0–9 T for GdAlO3 while the moderate effect of 18 J Kg K−1 is observed for polycrystalline GdMnO3. Though the relative cooling power of both the stated materials is similar however, the absence of magnetic and thermal hysteresis makes GdAlO3 a more efficient magnetic refrigerant than GdMnO3.