Large reversible magnetocaloric effect in the RECoC2 (RE=Ho and Er) compounds

The crystal structure, magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect (MCE) of HoCoC2 and ErCoC2 have been investigated. They both crystallize in orthorhombic CeNiC2-type structure with Amm2 space group and a second-order paramagnetic to ferromagnetic phase transition around the Curie temperature TC ∼11 K and ∼14 K occurred in them. Under the magnetic field change (ΔH) of 0-5 T, the maximal values of magnetic entropy change, refrigerant capacity and relative cooling power are 15.6 J/kg K, 183 J/kg, 242 J/kg for HoCoC2 and 17.2 J/kg K, 243 J/kg, 375 J/kg for ErCoC2, respectively.