The field dependence of the magnetocaloric effect (MCE) in Mn_1.22Fe_0.73P_0.47Si_0.53 is studied in terms of the entropy change (Δ S) and the temperature change (Δ T) for applied magnetic fields up to 5 and 14 T, respectively. The magnetic fields required to saturate the MCE in this system are ∼ 1.7 and 4-5 T for Δ S and Δ T, respectively. The MCE field dependence is compared with the two approaches of the literature: 1) latent heat model and 2) the power law evolution predicted from the universal analysis of the MCE. It turns out that both of these methods are unsuitable to describe the MCE field evolution in MnFe(P,Si) materials.

Recently, materials undergoing a first-order magnetic transition (FOMT) near room temperature have attracted much attentions due to the possibility to use their large magnetocaloric effect (MCE) for magnetic refrigeration [1]. Among them, the MnFe(P, X) (X = As, Ge, Si, B) family turns out to be one of the most promising due to the large isothermal entropy change ΔS, adiabatic temperature change ΔT_ad, a tunable Curie temperature (T_C) and the practical advantages. Till now, most of the MCE studies on MnFe(P, X) focused on the intermediate magnetic field range (B ≤ 2T) as it is the most relevant field for applications [2]. However, extending the field range of the MCE derivation is important from both fundamental and practical points of view. On one hand, it allows one to address the field dependence of the MCE quantities, the possible influence of the critical point, etc; On the other hand, high field ΔS or ΔT_ad data are useful for the optimization of the MCE at intermediate field. Indeed, at first glance, one can consider for FOMT that the ΔS or ΔT_ad will saturate above a given field value (B∗(ΔS) or B∗(ΔT)). The point is that in Giant-MCE materials, it might be advantageous to bring these B∗ (often at high field) as close as possible to the field used in application. Understanding the field dependence of ΔS, ΔT_d and quantifying the B∗ in MnFe(P, X) is required for further optimizations.