Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of a monoclinic compound Gd <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" altimg="si45.svg" display="inline" id="d1e685"> <mml:msub> <mml:mrow/> <mml:mrow> <mml:mn>5</mml:mn> </mml:mrow> </mml:msub> <

The magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Gd 5 Ru 2 with a monoclinic Mn 5 C 2 -type structure were studied using electrical resistivity, magnetization and specific heat measurements. The magnetization of Gd 5 Ru 2 exhibited a cusp at T N = 55 K, suggesting an antiferro-magnetic transition. In addition, metamagentic behavior was observed in the magnetization curve below T N , supporting the occurrence of an antiferro-magnetic transition. At T SR = 40 K, a steep increase in the magnetization was observed, suggesting a spin reorientation transition. Owing to these magnetic transitions, the maximum entropy change − Δ S m and relative cooling power (RCP) reached 16.3 J/K kg and 605 J/kg, respectively, when the magnetic field was changed from 0 to 5 T. • The magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of Gd 5 Ru 2 were studied. • Gd 5 Ru 2 exhibits successive magnetic transitions at T N = 55 K and T SR = 40 K. • The maximum entropy change − Δ S m reaches 16.3 J/K kg for a field change of 0–5 T.