Excellent magnetocaloric performance of a Fe88Zr4Pr4B4 amorphous alloy and its amorphous hybrids

Fe88Zr8-xPrxB4 (x = 2, 4, 6) ribbons with a thickness of ∼40 μm were fabricated, but only the Fe88Zr8-xPrxB4 (x = 2, 4) samples can be quenched into fully amorphous state. The Fe88Zr8-xPrxB4 (x = 2, 4) amorphous ribbons exhibit higher Curie temperature (Tc) and maximum magnetic entropy change (−ΔSmpeak) than those of the Fe88Zr8B4 amorphous alloy, without significant coercivity and spin-glass-like behaviors. The almost highest value of −ΔSmpeak near 320 K of the Fe88Zr4Pr4B4 amorphous alloy (∼4.0 J/(kg × K) under 5 T) makes it possible to construct several amorphous hybrids that exhibit specific table-shaped magnetic entropy change profiles with higher average −ΔSm and effective refrigeration capacity within the working temperature intervals of various domestic magnetic refrigerating appliances.