Role of electronic and structural characteristics on the magnetic properties of the Gd3Co1-xRux series

We report a systematic study to unveil the major magnetic and calorimetric behavior differences between Gd3Co and Gd3Ru compounds. We focus on the investigation of the microscopic origin of the enhanced magnetocaloric properties presented by Gd3Ru through an analysis of the magnetization, structural and calorimetric properties of the Gd3Co1-xRux series. Chemical substitution and hydrostatic pressure were used as tools to determine the differences between the structural and electronic changes within the series. Our experimental data and DFT calculations suggest that while the structural changes causes almost no effect on the magnetic properties of the compounds, the hybridization between the gadolinium 5d and the transition metal 3d(4d) orbitals plays a fundamental role and regulate the magnetic interaction in the series.