Large magnetocaloric effect and giant magnetoresistance in rare earth based intermetallic compound ErAl 3 : construction of magnetic phase diagram.

This study explores the magnetic and magnetotransport behavior of polycrystalline ErAl 3 compound. The polycrystalline compound adopts HoAl 3 -type structures with the R-3m space group, No. 166-2 and hR60 configurations. Multiple magnetic orderings and two field-induced metamagnetic transitions are observed. ErAl 3 exhibits a significant magnetocaloric effect (MCE),-ΔSM= 15.25 J kg -1 K -1 and high relative cooling power of 383 J kg -1 with applied magnetic field change (Δ H ) of 70 kOe near the paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition, showcasing its potential for magnetic refrigeration technology. The compound also demonstrates metallic behavior, with a notable magnetoresistance of 48.5%at 2 K due to the suppression of antiferromagnetism. The magnetic phase diagram reveals four distinct phases influenced by temperature and magnetic field, identified through the study of the MCE.