Chirality and Magnetocaloricity in GdFeTeO6 as Compared to GdGaTeO6

GdFeTeO6 and GdGaTeO6 have been prepared and their structures refined by the Rietveld method. Both are superstructures of the rosiaite type (space group P3¯1c). Their thermodynamic properties have been investigated by means of magnetization M and specific heat Cp measurements, evidencing the formation of the long-range antiferromagnetic order at TN = 2.4 K in the former compound and paramagnetic behavior down to 2 K in the latter compound. Large magnetocaloric effect allows considering GdFeTeO6 for the magnetic refrigeration at liquid hydrogen stage. Density functional theory calculations produce estimations of leading Gd–Gd, Gd–Fe and Fe–Fe interactions suggesting unique chiral 120° magnetic structure of Fe3+ (S = 5/2) moments and Gd3+ (J = 7/2) moments rotating in opposite directions (clockwise/anticlockwise) within weakly coupled layers of the rosiaite type crystal structure.