Multiple spin switching and magnetocaloric effects in orthoferrite Yb_0.25Tb_0.75FeO₃ single crystal

YbFeO3 exhibits spin switching (SSW) and spin reorientation transition (SRT) at low temperatures, but its mediocre magnetocaloric properties limit its further applications. As for TbFeO3 showing a large magnetocaloric effect, its SSW is missing. Motivated by this, we chemically put Yb and Tb with a ratio of 1:3 on the rare-earth site. Potential applications of magnetic and magnetocaloric properties are both preserved in one single phase Yb0.25Tb0.75FeO3, which is exceptional among the rare-earth orthoferrites. Spin switching temperature (TSSW) in the field-cooled-cooling mode increases to around 100 K compared with YbFeO3. A novel multiple SSW emerges in the field-cooled-warming mode originating from the complex competing magnetic interactions between Yb/Tb and Fe sublattices. We also addressed the mechanism of spin modification of magnetic ions with temperatures. Arrott plots created from the isothermal magnetization curves demonstrate that SRT is a second-order phase transition. The negative entropy change (refrigeration capacity) vs. temperatures [ -& UDelta;Sm (RC) vs. T] diagrams indicate that the - & UDelta;Sm (RC) are effectively increased compared with YbFeO3 by rare-earth doping. The pronounced magnetic refrigeration performance and SSW effect with a low-field dependence make it promising to be employed in both magnetic sensing and refrigeration devices.