Temperature Dependence of the Microstructure and Magnetic Properties of Polycrystalline GdCrO3

Polycrystalline GdCrO3 was synthesized by the solid-state reaction method. The temperature-dependent microstructure and magnetic properties were investigated systematically. Both the Raman and FTIR spectra indicate a microstructure anomaly around 170 K. Magnetic studies demonstrate that the sample experiences two magnetic transitions around TN(Cr) ~ 167 K and TN(Gd) ~ 2.8 K related to the AFM Cr3+–Cr3+ interaction and Gd3+–Gd3+ interaction. Interestingly, the ferrimagnetic interaction between Gd and Cr ions results in the temperature-dependent magnetic reversal (TMR) together with a spin flipping (SF) that occurs at Tmin ~ 25.7 K. Due to the anisotropic exchange interaction of the Gd3+–Cr3+, a spin reorientation (SR) from Г4 (Gx, Ay, Fz) phase to Г2 (Fx, Cy, Gz) phase occurs at TSR ~ 7.8 K. In addition, a giant magnetocaloric effect (MCE) caused by the second-order AFM phase transition of Gd3+ ordering is observed at T = 3 K and H = 3 T with a magnetic entropy of − ΔSM ~ 32.8 J/kg⋅K. The present research suggests that GdCrO3 can be considered as a potential candidate material for applying in magnetic refrigeration.