Neutron diffraction study on the magnetic structure of Fe2P-based Mn0.66Fe1.29P1−xSix melt-spun ribbons

We report on the magnetic and structural properties of Mn0.66Fe1.29P1−xSix melt-spun ribbons with 0.34≤x≤0.42 that are promising candidates for high-temperature magnetocaloric applications. A magnetic moment of up to 4.57 μB/f.u. for x=0.34 indicates high magnetic density in the system, which is certainly advantageous for the magnetocaloric effects. Introducing site disorder at the 3g site by replacing 1/3 of Fe with Mn appears to enhance the magnetic interaction, while the strong magnetoelastic coupling is maintained. This site disorder also shows a stabilizing effect on the hexagonal crystal structure, which is maintained to a high Si content. The moment alignment within the crystallographic unit cell is also affected when the Si content is increased from x=0.34 to 0.42 in the Mn0.66Fe1.29P1−xSix compounds as the canting angle with respect to the c-direction increases.