Magnetic and magnetocaloric properties of melt-extracted Mn1.26Fe0.60P0.48Si0.52 microwires

TL;DR

This study reports the successful fabrication and systematic investigation of melt-extracted Mn1.26Fe0.60P0.48Si0.52 microwires, revealing their magnetic and magnetocaloric properties suitable for magnetic refrigeration at liquid nitrogen temperatures.

Contribution

First demonstration of melt-extraction fabrication of Mn1.26Fe0.60P0.48Si0.52 microwires with detailed magnetic and magnetocaloric characterization.

Findings

Microwires have a hexagonal Fe2P-type phase with homogeneous composition.

Undergo a weak first-order magnetic phase transition at 142 K.

Maximum magnetic entropy change of 4.64 Jkg-1K-1 for 5 T field.

Abstract

The polycrystalline Mn1.26Fe0.60P0.48Si0.52 microwires were successfully fabricated for the first time by the melt-extraction technique, and their magnetic and magnetocaloric properties were investigated systematically. The structural analysis shows that the microwires possess a hexagonal phase with Fe2P type, with a homogeneous composition distribution. Magnetometry measurements show that the microwires undergo a weak first-order magnetic phase transition at a temperature of 142 K. The maximum magnetic entropy change of the microwires reaches 4.64 Jkg-1K-1 for a field change of 5 T. These low-cost Mn1.26Fe0.60P0.48Si0.52 microwires are promising for active magnetic refrigeration in the liquid nitrogen temperature range.