Magnetic entropy changes for the rotating magnetocaloric effect in RB4 (R = Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, and Tm)

•We synthesized high-purity single crystals of RB4 (R = Gd-Tm) compounds and investigated magnetic entropy change of them with a magnetic field applied both parallel and perpendicular to c-axis.•From the data, we estimated the rotational entropy change (ΔSr) and corresponding rotational relative cooling power (RCPr).•Concerning the application, in particularly, DyB4 would be quite useful for RMCE applications.