Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects in Tb₆Co_1.67Si₃ compound

Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effects of Tb_6Co_1.67Si_3 have been investigated by magnetization measurement. This compound is of a hexagonal Ce_6Ni_2Si_3-type structure with a saturation magnetization of 187 emu/g at 5 K and a reversible second-order magnetic transition at Curie temperature T_\rm C = 186 K. A magnetic entropy change \Delta S = 7 J \cdot kg^-1 \cdot K^-1 is observed for a magnetic field change from 0 to 5 T. A large value of refrigerant capacity (RC) is found to be 330 J/kg for fields ranging from 0 to 5 T. The large RC, the reversible magnetization around T_\rm C and the easy fabrication make the Tb_6Co_1.67Si_3 compound a suitable candidate for magnetic refrigerants in a corresponding temperature range.