Giant reversible magnetocaloric effect in metamagnetic HoCuSi compound

The magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of antiferromagnetic HoCuSi compound have been studied. It is found that HoCuSi undergoes a field-induced first order metamagnetic transition from antiferromagnetic (AFM) to ferromagnetic (FM) states below the Néel temperature (TN). A giant MCE without hysteresis loss is observed in HoCuSi around TN. The maximal magnetic entropy change (−ΔSM) and refrigerant capacity are 33.1 J/kgK and 385 J/kg, respectively, for a field change of 0–5 T. The excellent magnetocaloric properties can result from the field-induced AFM-FM transition below TN and the increase in magnetization change caused by the change in lattice volume at TN.