Magnetic properties and magnetocaloric effect of (Mn1-xFex)5Sn3 (x=0-0.5) compounds

The structural and magnetic properties of (Mn1-xFex)(5)Sn-3 compounds have been investigated by x-ray diffraction and magnetic measurements. All the samples crystallize in the hexagonal Ni2In-type structure (P6(3)/mmc) with the lattice parameters and cell volume decreasing almost linearly with the increase of Fe concentration. Besides the spin-glass state transition, the thermomagnetic curves show two other successive magnetic ordering transitions and their temperatures vary with x and show minima when x similar to 0.2. With increasing Fe content, the difference between the two magnetic ordering temperatures becomes larger gradually from similar to 12K (x = 0) to similar to 42K (x = 0.5) and the magnetization at 5K increases continuously. The -Delta S-M(T) dependence for x = 0.45 exhibits two peaks, leading to a wide temperature range for magnetic refrigeration and thus a considerable magnetic refrigerant capacity (120 J/kg, Delta H - 5T). (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics.