Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in the R₂PdSi₃ (R = Gd, Dy and Er) compounds

The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect in R₂PdSi₃ (R = Dy, Dy and Er) compounds have been investigated. All these compounds possess an antiferromagnetic (AFM)-paramagnetic (PM) transition around their respective Néel temperatures. And, it is found that the Dy₂PdSi₃ and Er₂PdSi₃ compounds undergo a spin-glass behavior below Néel temperature. Under the magnetic field change of 5 T, the values of -ΔSMmax reach 11.8 J/kg K for Gd₂PdSi₃, 16.6 J/kg K for Dy₂PdSi₃ and 22 J/kg K for Er₂PdSi₃, respectively. Especially, the values of -ΔSMmax in the Er₂PdSi₃ compound are 8 and 14.5 J/kg K for field change of 1 and 2 T, which is attributed to a field-induced metamagnetic transition from AFM to FM states. The large reversible -Δ^SM and large RC together with the absence of thermal and field hysteresis indicate that Er₂PdSi₃ compound could be a promising candidate for magnetic refrigeration at low temperatures.