Large table-like magnetocaloric effect in boron-doped Er5Si3B0.5 compound

In this work, Er5Si3B0.5 compound with the Mn5Si3-type hexagonal structure was synthesized, and the structure, magnetic properties, and the magnetocaloric effect were investigated theoretically and experimentally. The magnetic measurement results show a complex successive magnetic transition below TN. However, the magnetization of the Er5Si3B0.5 compound below TN is saturated under lower magnetic field relative to the Er5Si3 compound. Theoretical calculation indicates that this was attributed to the enhanced inter-orbital exchange interaction after doping B element. The complicated successive magnetic transitions contribute to the table-like magnetocaloric effect observed in the Er5Si3B0.5 compound with a wide temperature region. The maximum magnetic entropy change and the temperature averaged entropy change (30) are 10.1 and 9.02 J/kg K for the Er5Si3B0.5 compound under varying magnetic fields from 0 to 5 T, respectively. The temperature averaged entropy change (30) is reduced by just 11% compared to the maximum magnetic entropy change. While presenting an ideal magnetic refrigeration material with a large table-like magnetocaloric effect for hydrogen liquefaction, our work also demonstrates the feasibility of regulating magnetic behavior through enhanced orbital exchange interactions to develop magnetic refrigeration materials with outstanding performance.