Abstract
We have synthesized a new intermetallic compound Ho2Ni0.95Si2.95 in a single phase with a defect crystal structure. The magnetic ground state of this material found to be highly frustrated without any long range order or glassy feature as investigated through magnetic, heat capacity and neutron diffraction measurements. The interest in this material stems from the fact that despite the absence of true long range order, large magnetocaloric effect (isothermal magnetic entropy change, −ΔSM ~ 28.65 J/Kg K (~205.78 mJ/cm3 K), relative cooling power, RCP ~ 696 J/Kg (~5 J/cm3) and adiabatic temperature change, ΔTad ~ 9.32 K for a field change of 70 kOe) has been observed which is rather hard to find in nature.
Highlights
Magnetocaloric effect is a thermodynamical phenomenon in which change in material temperature occurs due to application of magnetic field under adiabatic condition
With increase in magnetic field, degeneracy in the ground state tend to be lifted causing frustrated magnetic moments to polarize in the field direction
All the bulk materials so far reported to exhibit such frustrated ground state found to coexist with long range magnetic order
Summary
The room temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of full stoichiometric Ho2NiSi3 found to contain minor (
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
