Abstract
This study systematically investigates the magnetic ordering and magnetocaloric properties of a series of polycrystalline compounds, Gd(1-x)Dy(x)ScO(3) (x = 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 1). X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis confirms that all samples exhibit an orthorhombic perovskite structure with a space group of Pbnm. The zero-field cooling and field cooling magnetization curves demonstrate a transition from antiferromagnetic to paramagnetic phases, with Néel temperatures of about 3 K for GdScO(3) and 4 K for DyScO(3). The doping of Dy(3+) weakened long-range antiferromagnetic order and enhanced short-range magnetic disorder in GdScO(3), leading to vanished antiferromagnetic transition between 2 and 100 K for the sample of x = 0.2. Using the Arrott-Noakes equation, we constructed Arrott plots to analyze the system's critical behavior. Both the compounds with x = 0.1 and x = 0.2 conform to the 3D-Heisenberg model. These results indicate the weakened long-range antiferromagnetic order induced by Dy(3+) doping. Significant maximal magnetic entropy change (-ΔSMMax) of 36.03 J/kg K at 3 K for the sample Gd(0.9)Dy(0.1)ScO(3) is achieved as the magnetic field changes from 0 to 50 kOe, which is higher than that of GdScO(3) (-ΔSMMax = 34.32 J/kg K) and DyScO(3) (-ΔSMMax = 15.63 J/kg K). The considerable magnetocaloric effects (MCEs) suggest that these compounds can be used in the development of low-temperature magnetic refrigeration materials.