Magnetotransport and magnetocaloric effect in Ho2In

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 T-C = 85 K is observed. A further spin reorientation type transition is also apparent in our measured data at around T-t = 32 K. The sample exhibits negative magnetoresistance (peak value of-14% at 5 T) over a wide temperature range that extends well above T-C. Substantially large magneto-caloric effect is also observed in the sample (maximum value of -8.5 J kg(-1)K(-1) for 0 -> 5 T), which peaks around the T-C 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.