Magnetotransport and magnetocaloric effect in Ho

The magnetotransport and magnetic properties of the binary intermetallic compound Ho2In have been investigated. Clear signature of long range ferromagnetic order in the resistivity and the magnetization data at TC = 85 K is observed. A further spin reorientation type transition is also apparent in our measured data at around Tt = 32 K. The sample exhibits negative magnetoresistance (peak value of –14% at 5 T) over a wide temperature range that extends well above TC. Substantially large magneto-caloric effect is also observed in the sample (maximum value of –8.5 J kg-1K-1 for 0 → 5 T), which peaks around the TC of the sample. The observed magnetoresistance and magnetocaloric effect are related to the suppression of spin disorder by an external magnetic field. Ho2In can be an interesting addition to the list of rare-earth based magnetic refrigerant materials showing magneto-caloric effect across a second order phase transition