Large magnetic entropy change near room temperature in the LaFe_11.5Si_1.5H_1.3 interstitial compound

The LaFe_11.5Si_1.5H_1.3 interstitial compound has been prepared. Its Curie temperature T_C (288 K) has been adjusted to around room temperature, and the maximal magnetic entropy change (|ΔS|～17.0 J·kg^-1·K^-1 at T_C) is larger than that of Gd (|ΔS|～9.8 J·kg^-1·K^-1 at T_C=293 K) by ～73.5% under a magnetic change from 0 to 5 T. The origin of the large magnetic entropy change is attributed to the first-order field-induced itinerant-electron metamagnetic transition. Moreover, the magnetic hysteresis of LaFe_11.5Si_1.5H_1.3 under the increase and decrease of the field is very small, which is favourable to magnetic refrigeration application. The present study suggests that the LaFe_11.5Si_1.5H_1.3 compound is a promising candidate as a room-temperature magnetic refrigerant.