Effect of off-stoichiometry and Ta doping on Fe-rich (Mn,Fe)2(P,Si) based giant magnetocaloric materials

Abstract

The influence of off-stoichiometry and of doping with the 5d transition metal Ta has been studied in the quaternary (Mn,Fe)2(P,Si)-based compound, which is one of the most promising materials systems for magnetic refrigeration. It is found that Ta substitution can decrease the transition temperature Ttr, while the thermal hysteresis ∆Thys remains about constant. A low Ta doping enhances the magnetocaloric effect (MCE). For Mn0.6Fe1.27-yTayP0.64Si0.36 with y = 0.01 the magnetic entropy change ∆Sm shows and enhancement of 30.7% compared to the undoped material for a low magnetic field change of 1 T. The occupancy of substitutional Ta atoms is determined by XRD and DFT calculations. The Ttr shift and enhanced MCE upon Ta doping are ascribed to the competition between a weakening of the magnetic exchange interactions and a strengthening of the hybridization. Our studies provide a good strategy to further optimize the MCE of this material family.