Magnetic structure of the magnetocaloric compound AlFe₂B₂

The crystal and magnetic structures of AlFe₂B₂ have been studied with a combination of X-ray and neutron diffraction and electronic structure calculations. The magnetic and magnetocaloric properties have been investigated by magnetisation measurements. The samples have been produced using high temperature synthesis and subsequent heat treatments. The compound crystallises in the orthorhombic crystal system Cmmm and it orders ferromagnetically at 285 K through a second order phase transition. At temperatures below the magnetic transition the magnetic moments align along the crystallographic a-axis. The magnetic entropy change from 0 to 800 kA/m was found to be −1.3 J/K kg at the magnetic transition temperature. - Graphical abstract: The magnetic structure of AlFe₂B₂ has been investigated using neutron diffraction and the magnetic spins have been found to align ferromagnetically along the crystallographic a-axis. - Highlights: • The crystal and magnetic structures of AlFe₂B₂ have been studied. • Orders ferromagnetically at 285 K via a second order phase transition. • The magnetic moments are found to be aligned along the crystallographic a-axis. • The magnetic entropy change from 0 to 800 kA/m was found to be −1.3 J/K kg.