Anisotropic magnetocaloric response in AlFe2B2

Experimental investigations of the magnetocaloric response of the intermetallic layered AlFe2B2 compound along the principle axes of the orthorhombic cell were carried out using aligned plate-like crystallites with an anisotropic [101] growth habit. Results were confirmed to be consistent with density functional theory calculations. Field-dependent magnetization data confirm that the a-axis is the easy direction of magnetization within the (ac) plane. The magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy required to rotate the spin quantization vector from the c-to the a-axis direction is determined as K∼0.9 MJ/m3 at 50 K. Magnetic entropy change curves measured near the Curie transition temperature of 285 K reveal a large rotating magnetic entropy change of 1.3 J kg−1K−1 at μ0Happ = 2 T, consistent with large differences in magnetic entropy change ΔSmag measured along the a- and c-axes. Overall, this study provides insight of both fundamental and applied relevance concerning pathways for maximizing the magnetocaloric potential of AlFe2B2 for thermal management applications. [Display omitted] •First report regarding an anisotropic magnetocaloric response in AlFe2B2.•In AlFe2B2, the a- and c-axis is the easy and hard direction of magnetization, respectively.•The magnetocrystalline anisotropy in the (ac) plane is K∼0.9 MJ/m3 at 50 K.•Large rotating magnetic entropy change at 285 K (ΔSrot=1.3 J·kg−1K−1 at μ0Happ=2 T).•Results provide guidelines for maximizing the magnetocaloric potential of AlFe2B2.