Magnetocaloric effects in Mn_1.35Fe_0.65P_1−xSi_x compounds

The structural and magnetocaloric properties of Mn_1.35Fe_0.65P_1−xSi_x compounds are investigated. The Si-substituted compounds, Mn_1.35Fe_0.65P_1−xSi_x with x = 0.52, 0.54, 0.55, 0.56, and 0.57, are prepared by high-energy ball milling and the solid-state reaction. The X-ray diffraction shows that the compounds crystallize into the Fe₂P-type hexagonal structure with space group P2m. The magnetic measurements show that the Curie temperature of the compound increases from 253 K for x = 0.52 to 296 K for x = 0.56. The isothermal magnetic-entropy change of the Mn_1.35Fe_0.65P_1−xSi_x compound decreases with the Si content increasing. The maximal value of the magnetic-entropy change is about 7.0 J/kg·K in the Mn_1.35Fe_0.65P_0.48Si_0.52 compound with a field change of 1.5 T. The compound quenched in water possesses a larger magnetic entropy change and a smaller thermal hysteresis than the non-quenched samples. The thermal hysteresis of the compound is less than 3.5 K. The maximum adiabatic temperature change is about 1.4 K in the Mn_1.35Fe_0.65P_0.45Si_0.55 compound with a field change of 1.48 T.