The influence of combination of the first-order and second-order phase transitions on magnetocaloric effects in Mn3Cu1-xFexN

The influences of Fe substitutions on magnetic properties, phase transformations and magnetocaloric effects of Mn3Cu1-xFexN have been investigated. The magnetic phase transition temperature (Tc) increases but the first-order phase transition temperature decreases with increasing the Fe content. Fe doping separates the first-order phase transition into first-order and second-order phase transitions in Mn3Cu1-xFexN. The second-order (paramagnetic-ferromagnetic) transition coexists with first-order (ferromagnetic-ferrimagnetic) transition in Mn3Cu0.95Fe0.05N. Introduction of the second-order magnetic transition broadens the phase transition span, which greatly enhances the relative cooling power of Mn3CuN. The results indicate that resolving complex magnetic phase transition may improve the cooling capacity of antiperovskite compounds.