Investigation of magnetocaloric properties and critical phenomenon of the intermetallic compound DyCoAl across magnetic transition

Herein we report the magnetocaloric properties, critical analysis across magnetic phase transition and investigated their correlation for the ternary intermetallic compound DyCoAl that belongs to MgZn${}_2$-type structure with space group P6${}_3$/mmc. The nature of magnetic phase transition is investigated by conducting critical analysis in the vicinity of ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition temperature ($\sim 37$ K) by means of modified Arrot plot, Kouvel-Fisher plot, critical isotherm, heat capacity data analysis as well as magnetocaloric study. We acquire the critical exponents $\alpha \sim 0.81$, $\beta \sim 0.20$, $\gamma \sim 0.77$, $\delta \sim 4.8$, $T_c\sim 39$ K, validating their self-consistency and reliability through the Widom scaling law and scaling equations. The compound exhibits a very high relative cooling power (RCP) of $\sim 1319$ J/kg and a moderate adiabatic temperature change of $\sim 6.7$ K for a field change of 90 kOe. The mechanical efficiency of this compound is significantly larger compared to other refrigerants operating in cryogenic temperature range, positioning it as a promising candidate for various technological applications.