The magnetocaloric (MC) properties of many rare earth (RE)-based magnetic solids have been intensively investigated. This research aims to develop suitable MC materials for low-temperature cooling application and to better elucidate their intrinsic properties. We have fabricated four single-phase SrRE2O4 (RE = Gd, Dy, Ho, Er) oxides and conducted a systematic experimental investigation into their structural, magnetic, and low-temperature MC properties. All these SrRE2O4 oxides crystallize in an orthorhombic structure (space group Pnma) and exhibit typical geometrical frustration. This frustration arises from the one-dimensional RE ion zigzag ladders along the c-axis, which link the two-dimensional honeycomb lattice in the ab plane. The elements in SrRE2O4 oxides are uniformly distributed and present with valence states of Sr2+, RE3+, and O2−, respectively. Large low-temperature MC effects and notable performances are realized in these SrRE2O4 oxides, determined by the MC parameters of magnetic entropy change, refrigerant capacity, and temperature-averaged entropy change (with a lift of 5 K). These MC parameters under a magnetic field change of 0–70 kOe are as follows: 34.18 J/kgK, 275.88 J/kg, and 30.74 J/kgK for SrGd2O4; 18.13 J/kgK, 253.83 J/kg, and 17.54 J/kgK for SrDy2O4; 18.81 J/kgK, 354.77 J/kg, and 18.61 J/kgK for SrHo2O4; and 22.63 J/kgK, 284.25 J/kg, and 21.97 J/kgK for SrEr2O4. These values are comparable to those of most recently updated low-temperature MC materials with remarkable performances, making these SrRE2O4 oxides highly interesting for practical cooling applications.
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