Enhanced low field magnetocaloric effect through Fe doping induced ferromagnetic transition in HoCo0.8Fe0.2C compound

•High-quality polycrystalline HoCo0.8Fe0.2C was prepared, and its magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect were investigated.•Fe doping in HoCo0.8Fe0.2C induces a ferromagnetic transition, significantly improving the magnetocaloric performance.•Achieves a maximum magnetic entropy change of 20.5 J/kg K and a refrigerant capacity of 573.3 J/kg under a 0-7 T magnetic field change. The development of high-performance magnetocaloric materials has garnered significant attention due to their potential applications in magnetic refrigeration technology. Element doping has emerged as a crucial strategy for enhancing the magnetocaloric properties of these materials. In this study, we present the enhanced magnetocaloric effect in the HoCo0.8Fe0.2C compound through Fe doping. The Fe doping not only induces a ferromagnetic transition but also significantly improves the magnetocaloric performance of the compound. Under a magnetic field change from 0 to 7 T, the HoCo0.8Fe0.2C compound exhibits a maximum magnetic entropy change (-ΔSMmax) of 20.5 J/kg K and a refrigerant capacity (RC) of 573.3 J/kg. Additionally, this compound undergoes a spin reorientation transition at 11 K and a ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition at 18 K. These transitions are critical to understanding the magnetocaloric behavior of the material. The results highlight the potential of Fe-doped HoCo0.8Fe0.2C as an efficient magnetocaloric material, contributing to the advancement of magnetic refrigeration technology at low temperatures. Our study underscores the impact of element doping on the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of intermetallic compounds.