Influence of Gd doping on structural, electronic, optical and magnetocaloric properties in nanodysprosia (Dy2O3)

Nanosized dysprosia (NSD) and Gd-doped NSD (GNSD) are an efficient and eco-friendly magnetocaloric material system for magnetic refrigeration that can potentially replace the existing environmentally harmful chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-based refrigeration system. The NSDs were synthesised using the sol–gel process, and the structural, optical and magnetocaloric properties of materials were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultra-violet spectroscopy (UV) and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID). The magnetic and electronic properties of NSD and GNSD were investigated using first principle calculations. The magnetocaloric studies revealed that incorporation of Gd3+ in NSD induced maximum magnetic entropy change of 17.1 JKg−1 K−1 at 8 K with 5 T. With the notable low transition temperature, NSD and GNSD could potentially be used for cryo-cooling applications.