Giant magnetocaloric effect in magnetically frustrated EuHo ₂O₄ and EuDy₂O₄ compounds

We have investigated the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of EuHo₂O₄ and EuDy₂O₄ by magnetization and heat capacity measurements down to 2K. These compounds undergo a field-induced antiferromagnetic to ferromagnetic transition and exhibit a huge entropy change. For a field change of 0-8T, the maximum magnetic entropy and adiabatic temperature changes are 30 (25) Jkg^-1K^-1 and 12.7 (16) K, respectively, and the corresponding value of refrigerant capacity is 540 (415) Jkg^-1 for EuHo₂O₄ (EuDy ₂O₄). These magnetocaloric parameters also remain large down to lowest temperature measured and are even larger than that for some of the potential magnetic refrigerants reported in the same temperature range. Moreover, these materials are highly insulating and exhibit no thermal and field hysteresis, fulfilling the necessary conditions for a good magnetic refrigerant in the low-temperature region.