170302 20260410165451.0 doi 10.1063/5.0316768 sideral 148856 ART-2026-148856 eng Gracia, David Large sub-Kelvin magnetocaloric effect and phase behavior of gadolinium nitrate hexahydrate 2026 We report a comprehensive magnetothermal study of the classical gadolinium salt [Gd(NO3)3] · 6H2O at temperatures approaching absolute zero. Despite its long-standing availability as a commercial compound, its magnetocaloric properties have remained unexplored. Using electron paramagnetic resonance, magnetic susceptibility, heat capacity, and direct measurements of the magnetocaloric effect, we reveal that weak dipolar interactions combined with axial crystal-field anisotropy drive antiferromagnetic ordering at TN = 0.21 K. Remarkably, [Gd(NO3)3] · 6H2O exhibits an isothermal magnetic entropy change of −ΔSm = 26.1 J K−1 kg−1 at T = 0.6 K for a modest field variation of ΔB = 1 T and an adiabatic temperature change of ΔTad = 5.0 K at T = 1.6 K for the same ΔB, placing its performance among the strongest reported for Gd-based refrigerants under comparable low-field and sub-Kelvin conditions. These results provide a reference for understanding magnetocaloric behavior in hydrated salts and highlight the interplay between dipolar coupling and crystal-field anisotropy. Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/101119865/EU/Molecule-based magneto/electro/mechano-Calorics/MSCA-DN MolCal This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No H2020 101119865-MSCA-DN MolCal info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MCIU/PID2024-159457OB-C21 info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MICIU/CEX2023-001286-S info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.es info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Ubach I Cervera, Marc Charkiolakis, Emmanouil K. García-Rubio, Inés (orcid)0000-0002-1827-1250 Milios, Constantinos J. Evangelisti, Marco (orcid)0000-0002-8028-9064 14, 3 (2026), [8 pp.] APL mater. APL Materials 2166-532X 4789945 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/170302/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 1040960 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/170302/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:170302 articulos driver 2026-04-10-13:46:11 ARTICLE