High pressure investigation of AlFe2B2 single crystals by XLD and XMCD

AlFe2B2 is a nano-layered boride which exhibits a strong magneto-caloric effect (MCE) as well as a room temperature ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition . This compound has attracted a lot of attention due to its potential application for magnetic refrigeration, similarly to Gd5Si2Ge2 . We wish to investigate the local electronic and magnetic properties of AlFe2B2 as a function of pressure by using high pressure XLD and XMCD at the Fe K edge. This will help shed a new light on the MCE in this phase and it could allow us to uncover any potential change of the valence state of Fe atoms at high pressure.