Recent advances in technology and engineering are greatly associated with the development of advanced magnetic materials with improved magnetic and magnetotransport properties. Certain industrial sectors, such as magnetic sensors, microelectronics, security, and energy-efficient magnetic refrigerators, demand cost-effective materials with reduced dimensionality and desirable magnetic properties (i.e., enhanced magnetic softness, giant magnetic field sensitivity, large magnetocaloric effect, large shape memory effect, etc.).

In particular, the miniaturization of modern magnetoelectronic devices tends to stimulate a rapid development of nanoscale magnetic materials, including nanostructured thin films, nanowires, nanodots, and nanoparticle assemblies. However, the development of soft magnetic materials in different forms of ribbons, wires, microwires, and multilayered thin films still continues to attract significant attention from the scientific community, as the discovery of the so-called giant magnetoimpedance effect in these materials makes them very attractive for a wide range of high-performance sensor applications ranging from engineering, industry, to biomedicine. In another research area, the development of advanced magnetocaloric materials for advanced magnetic refrigeration technology has also generated growing interest among scientists. The majority of magnetic refrigeration is to develop new materials that are cost-effective and possess high cooling efficiencies (i.e., large magnetocaloric effect over a wide temperature range). In all cases, a comprehensive understanding of the processing-structure-property relationship in the fabricated materials is of critical importance.

The overall goal of this special issue is to provide most up-to-date information about recent developments in magnetic materials for advanced smart sensor and energy-efficient refrigeration technologies. We hope this issue will stimulate further interest in magnetic materials research. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Soft magnetic materials and sensor applications
• Magnetocaloric materials and magnetic refrigeration
• Magnetic shape alloys and related applications
• Amorphous and nanocrystalline magnetic materials and applications
• Magnetophotonic crystals and applications
• Magnetic nanoparticles and biomedical applications

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