Structural and magnetic properties of the MnFeSi P1- magnetocaloric phases

Abstract The MnFeSixP1-x phases (x = 0.30, 0.35, 0.40, 0.48, 0.52, 0.54, 0.56) have been synthesized by arc-melting and subsequent high-temperature sintering. For the first time, single crystals of x = 0.30, 0.40 were successfully grown and analyzed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. Variable temperature X-ray diffraction experiments for x = 0.30 were completed and they show structural changes across the phase transition. Magnetization data revealed that the Curie temperatures and thermal hysteresis values can be tuned according to the Si:P ratio.