Large magnetocaloric effect in ErCoSn driven by metamagnetic phase transition and short-range ferromagnetic correlations

Abstract Here, we report the results of structural, magnetic, thermal and magnetocaloric properties of ErCoSn compound. The compound undergoes an antiferromagnetic (AFM) ordering around TN = 4.6 K and magnetic correlation is observed above TN, up to T = 11 K. Below TN, a spin-glass state was observed for ErCoSn due to an apparent coexistence of ferromagnetic (FM) interaction with long-range AFM order. External applied magnetic field induces a first-order-like metamagnetic phase transition from AFM to FM state that is responsible for the large values of the maximum isothermal entropy change (- Δ M max = 16.5 J/kgK@50 kOe) and adiabatic temperature change (ΔTad = 8.2 K). Furthermore, short-range ferromagnetic correlation above TN contributes to the widening of -ΔSM and ΔTad peaks as well as the increase of the ErCoSn compound refrigerant capacity. The results indicate attractive properties of this compound for magnetic refrigeration at cryogenic temperatures.