Effect of Carbon Doping on the Structure and Magnetic Phase Transition in (Mn,Fe<sub>2</sub>(P,Si))

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Abstract

Given the potential applications of (Mn,Fe2(P,Si))-based materials for room-temperature magnetic refrigeration, several research groups have carried out fundamental studies aimed at understanding the role of the magneto-elastic coupling in the first-order magnetic transition and further optimizing this system. Inspired by the beneficial effect of the addition of boron on the magnetocaloric effect of (Mn,Fe2(P,Si))-based materials, we have investigated the effect of carbon (C) addition on the structural properties and the magnetic phase transition of Mn 1.25Fe 0.70P 0.50Si 0.50C z and Mn 1.25Fe 0.70P 0.55Si 0.45C z compounds by x-ray diffraction, neutron diffraction and magnetic measurements in order to find an additional control parameter to further optimize the performance of these materials. All samples crystallize in the hexagonal Fe 2P -type structure (space group P-62m), suggesting that C doping does not affect the phase formation. It is found that the Curie temperature increases, while the thermal hysteresis and the isothermal magnetic entropy change decrease by adding carbon. Room-temperature neutron diffraction experiments on Mn 1.25Fe 0.70P 0.55Si 0.45C z compounds reveal that the added C substitutes P/Si on the 2c site and/or occupies the 6k interstitial site of the hexagonal Fe 2P -type structure.