Large reversible magnetocaloric effect in HoMn2O5

Magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in polycrystalline HoMn2O5 was investigated by isothermal magnetization curves from 2 K to 50 K. A relatively large magnetic entropy change, △SM = 7.8 J/(kg · K), was achieved with the magnetic field up to 70 kOe (1 Oe = 79.5775 A · m-1). The magnetic entropy change is reversible in the whole range of temperature. The contributions of elastic and magnetoelastic energy to the changing of the magnetic entropy are discussed in terms of the Landau theory. The reversibility of MCE with maximal refrigerant capacity RC = 216.7 J/kg makes polycrystalline HoMn2O5 promising as a magnetic refrigerant.