Order of magnetic transition and large magnetocaloric effect in Er₃Co*

We have studied the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of the Er₃Co compound, which undergoes ferromagnetic ordering below the Curie temperature T_\rm C=13 K. It is found by fitting the isothermal magnetization curves that the Landau model is appropriate to describe the Er₃Co compound. The giant magnetocaloric effect (MCE) without hysteresis loss around T_\rm C is found to result from the second-order ferromagnetic-to-paramagnetic transition. The maximal value of magnetic entropy change is 24.5 J/kg\cdotK with a refrigerant capacity (RC) value of 476 J/kg for a field change of 0--5 T. Large reversible MEC and RC indicate the potentiality of Er₃Co as a candidate magnetic refrigerant at low temperatures.