Magnetocaloric effect and thermal conductivity of Gd(OH)3 and Gd2O(OH)4(H2O)2.

Magnetocaloric effect (MCE) and thermal conductivity of two gadolinium hydroxides, Gd(OH)3 (1) and Gd2O(OH)4(H2O)2 (2), are investigated. Magnetic studies indicate that both 1 and 2 exhibit antiferromagnetic interaction, and the MCE values for 1 and 2 at 2 K and ΔH = 7 T are 62.00 J kg(-1) K(-1) and 59.09 J kg(-1) K(-1), respectively. Investigation of their thermal conductivity reveals that the thermal conductivity for 1 is significantly better than that for 2.