Large low-field reversible magnetocaloric effect in K3Gd(PO4)2 at sub-Kelvin temperature

Abstract

We synthesized a potassium gadolinium phosphate K3Gd(PO4)2 with monoclinic structure (P21/m) by the high-temperature solid–state reaction method. Its lattice constants obtained by Rietveld refinements of XRD curve are a = 0.7411 nm, b = 0.5624 nm, and c = 0.9433 nm. Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of K3Gd(PO4)2 were investigated in detail. The magnetic phase transition temperature of K3Gd(PO4)2 was determined by ultra-low temperature testing to be 0.58 K. K3Gd(PO4)2 exhibits large magnetic entropy changes (–ΔSM). The maximum –ΔSM are 20.2 and 29.4 J/(kg·K) in the magnetic field variation (ΔH) of 1 and 2 T, respectively, which are larger than that of the commercial Gd3Ga5O12 (GGG). The maximum adiabatic temperature change (ΔTad) reaches 5.91 K under a magnetic field change (ΔH) of 1 T. K3Gd(PO4)2 is a potential magnetic refrigeration material for obtaining sub-Kelvin temperatures.