A sign of field-induced first order magnetic state transition and giant reversible magnetocaloric effect in cobalt hydroxide nanosheets

We report the synthesis of β−Co(OH)2 nanosheets using microwave assisted hydrothermal and conventional chemical reaction methods. A magnetic transition at an onset temperature, T1 ~ 96 K, and a sign of antiferromagnetic state transition at the Néel temperature, TN=9~10 K, can be determined from M-T curves and M-H curves magnetic properties investigation. It is found that a sign of field-induced first order transition below 9 K, act as a role of reversing the magnetocaloric effect from negative to positive value. The large reversible magnetic-entropy change (∆SM) of 17 J/kg K around 11 K for a field change of 5 T indicates that this material is useful for refrigeration applications at low temperatures.