Magnetocaloric effect in Gd-based ferromagnet GdZn2

Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect of the Gd-based compound GdZn2 have been investigated. GdZn2 shows a ferromagnetic transition at TC=85K and spin-reorientation transition at TSR= 58 K. The maximum entropy change and relative cooling power (RCP) are estimated to be 11.5 J/K kg and 690 J/kg, respectively, for a magnetic field change of 7 T. The large value of RCP is suggested that GdZn2 is an attractive candidate for a low-temperature magnetic refrigerant.