LAUSR

Abstract Magnetic cooling (MC) by utilizing the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) has been considered as one of the most potential promising solid state alternative method to present well-used state-of-the-art gas compression cooling technique. In this work, the rare earth (RE)-rich indides Gd6Co2.2In0.8, Tb6Co2.2In0.8, Dy6Co2.2In0.8 and Ho6Co2.2In0.8 were fabricated and checked with respect to their crystal structure, magnetic properties and magnetocaloric performances. All the RE6Co2.2In0.8 samples are crystallized with the orthorhombic Ho6Co2Ga-type structure and ordered magnetically. Considerable cryogenic magnetocaloric performances have been found. Around the magnetic transition temperatures of 76, 32, 50 and 18 K for Gd6Co2.2In0.8, Tb6Co2.2In0.8, Dy6Co2.2In0.8 and Ho6Co2.2In0.8, the magnetic entropy change ( Δ S M ) peak values with a magnetic change ( Δ H ) equals to 0–70 kOe and the corresponding temperature averaged Δ S M (with 3 K-lift) are 11.84 and 11.82 J/kg-K, 8.96 and 8.80 J/kg-K, 9.59 and 9.54 J/kg-K, 20.83 and 20.38 J/kg-K for Gd6Co2.2In0.8, Tb6Co2.2In0.8, Dy6Co2.2In0.8 and Ho6Co2.2In0.8, respectively.