This work contains a broad study of a variety of magnetic materials undergoing second order phase transitions. In general this leads to an overall increase in information and analytical methods to further the field of magnetocalorics. Specifically, critical aspects of magnetocaloric materials were compared within systems in relation to structure, stoichiometry, magnetic minority phases and magnetic contaminants. Detailed analyses were developed to quantify techniques which were in the past used mainly in a qualitative way, leading to a more complete understanding of how critical phenomena impacts the magnetocaloric response.

This thesis concerns and combines the results of experimental studies of magnetocaloric, multiferroic and spin-glass materials, using SQUID magnetometry as the main characteriza-tion technique.  The magnetocaloric effect offers an interesting new technology for cooling and heating applications. The studies of magnetocaloric materials in this thesis are focused on experimen-tal characterization of fundamental magnetic properties of Fe2P-based materials. These are promising magnetocaloric materials with potential industrial use. It is found that the magneto-caloric properties of Fe2P can be optimally tuned by substitution of manganese for iron and silicon for phosphorus. Furthermore, a simple device to measure the magnetocaloric effect in terms of the adiabatic temperature change was constructed.  Materials that simultaneously exhibit different types of ferroic order, for example magnetic and electrical order, are rare in nature. Among these multiferroic materials, those in which the ferroelectricity is magnetically-induced, or vice versa the magnetism is electrically-induced, are intensively studied due to a need for new functionalities in future data storage and logic devices. This thesis presents results on two materials: Co3TeO6 and Ba3NbFe3Si2O14, which belong to the group of magnetically-induced ferroelectrics and exhibit strong coupling be-tween the magnetic and the electrical order parameter. Their ordering properties were studied using magnetic and electrical measurement techniques. The coupling between the magnetic and electronic degrees of freedom was investigated using high-field and low-temperature Raman spectroscopy.  Spin-glass materials exhibit complex magnetism and disorder. The influence of the spin dimensionality on the low and high magnetic field properties of spin glasses was investigated by studying model Heisenberg, XY and Ising spin-glass systems. Significant differences were found between the non-equilibrium dynamics and the hysteresis behavior of Heisenberg systems compared to those of XY and Ising spin glasses.

In the past decade, active magnetic regenerative (AMR) refrigeration technology has progressed towards commercial application. The number of prototype systems and test apparatuses has steadily increased thanks to the worldwide research efforts. Due to the extensive variety of possible implementations of AMR, design methods are not well established. This thesis proposes a framework for approaching AMR device design. The University of Victoria now has three functional AMR Refrigerators. The newest system constructed in 2012 operates near-room-temperature and is intended primarily as a modular test apparatus with a broad range of control parameters and operating conditions. The design objectives, considerations and analysis are presented. Extensive data has been collected using the machines at the University of Victoria. Performance metrics are used to compare the devices. A semi-analytical relationship is developed that can be used as an effective modelling tool during the design process. / Graduate / 0548

The objective of this work is to assess the potential of Mn-Fe-Si-P for magnetic heat pump applications. Mn-Fe-Si-P is a first order transition magnetocaloric material made from safe and abundantly available constituents. A significant magnetocaloric effect occurs at the transition temperature of the material. The transition temperature can be tuned by changing the atom ratios to a region near room temperature. Mn-Fe-Si-P in magnetic heat pumps is investigated by determining the material's properties, 1D system modeling and experiments in a magnetic heat pump prototype. We characterize six samples of Mn-Fe-Si-P, based on their heat capacity and magnetization. The reversible component of the adiabatic temperature change is found from the entropy diagram and compared to cyclic adiabatic temperature change measurements. Five of the six samples are selected to be formed into epoxy xed crushed particulate beds, which can be installed into a magnetic heat pump prototype. A system model is constructed to understand the losses of the magnetic heat pump prototype. Several experiments are performed with Gd with rejection temperatures around room temperature. Including dead volume and casing losses improves the modeling outcomes to match the experimental results closer. Experiments with Mn-Fe-Si-P are performed. Five materials are formed into modular beds that can be combined into two layer configurations. Six experimental configurations are tested, one single layer regenerator test with a passive lead second layer, and five experiments using two layers with varying transition temperature spacing between the materials. The best performance of the beds was found at close spacing at suitable rejection temperatures. It was found that at far spacing, the performance of stronger materials would produce a lower temperature span than that of weaker materials at close spacing. The experiments provide results that are used to validate the system modeling approach using the material data obtained of the Mn-Fe-Si-P samples. We integrate material properties into a system model. A framework is proposed to take into account the hysteresis. This framework shows an improvement of the predicted trend for a single layer case. The proximity of simulation and experimental multi-layering results are dependent on the rejection temperature. At the higher end of the rejection temperature the modeling results over-predict the temperature span around the active region. At lower rejection temperatures the simulation under-predicts the experimental temperature span. The inclusion of experimental pressure drop improved the trends found at higher rejection temperatures. A further improvement was found varying the interstitial heat transfer term. Modeling future research should focus on characterizing the thermo-hydraulic closure relationships for crushed particulate epoxy xed beds, and improvements to the heat loss model. Mn-Fe-Si-P is able to produce a temperature span, when a suitable set of Mn-Fe- Si-P materials are selected based on minimal hysteresis, making it a viable material for magnetic heat pump applications. The performance of Mn-Fe-Si-P is further improved by layering materials with a closely spaced transition temperature. Future research should focus on increasing the production of Mn-Fe-Si-P materials with low hysteresis, and improving the regenerator matrix geometry and stability. / Graduate

New and more efficient magnetic materials for energy applications are a big necessity for sustainable future. Whether the application is energy conversion or refrigeration, materials based on sustainable elements should be used, which discards all rare earth elements. For energy conversion, permanent magnets with high magnetisation and working temperature are needed whereas for refrigeration, the entropy difference between the non-magnetised and magnetised states should be large. For this reason, magnetic materials have been synthesised with high temperature methods and structurally and magnetically characterised with the aim of making a material with potential for large scale applications. To really determine the cause of the physical properties the connections between structure (crystalline and magnetic) and, mainly, the magnetic properties have been studied thoroughly. The materials that have been studied have all been iron based and exhibit properties with potential for the applications in mind. The first system, for permanent magnet applications, was Fe5SiB2. It was found to be unsuitable for a permanent magnet, however, an interesting magnetic behaviour was studied at low temperatures. The magnetic behaviour arose from a change in the magnetic structure which was solved by using neutron diffraction. Substitutions with phosphorus (Fe5Si1-xPxB2) and cobalt (Fe1-xCox)5PB2 were then performed to improve the permanent magnet potential. While the permanent magnetic potential was not improved with cobalt substitutions the magnetic transition temperature could be greatly controlled, a real benefit for magnetic refrigeration. For this purpose AlFe2B2 was also studied, and there it was found, conclusively, that the material undergoes a second order transition, making it unsuitable for magnetic cooling. However, the magnetic structure was solved with two different methods and was found to be ferromagnetic with all magnetic moments aligned along the crystallographic a-direction. Lastly, the origin of magnetic cooling was studied in Fe2P, and can be linked to the interactions between the magnetic and atomic vibrations.

Notre étude à caractère pluridisciplinaire comprend l'élaboration de composés intermétalliques ainsi que la caractérisation de leurs propriétés tant structurales que magnétiques. Nos travaux ont porté sur des borures RT12B6 où R est un élément de terre rare ou l'yttrium et T un métal de transition 3d ainsi que des phases de Laves (Hf,Ta)Fe2. Pour appréhender les propriétés physiques de ces composés, nous avons mis en œuvre diverses variables externes (température, champ magnétique, pression) mais aussi internes telle que la pression chimique liée à la substitution d'un élément par un autre. Nous apportons une contribution à l'étude des propriétés magnétiques des composés RCo12B6. Les propriétés magnétiques de ces composés sont caractérisées à la fois par une température d'ordre qui varie peu avec l'élément de terre rare R et un moment magnétique de Co remarquablement faible. Nous montrons que les interactions d'échange R-Co sont de plus d'un ordre de grandeur plus faibles que les interactions Co-Co existant dans ces composés. La substitution du fer au cobalt dans les composés RCo12B6 est possible et donne lieu à une localisation préférentielle. Grâce à la spectroscopie Mössbauer et à la diffraction neutronique, nous avons démontré l'extrême sensibilité de l'orientation des moments magnétiques à la substitution Fe/Co. Le composé LaFe12B6 présente des propriétés magnétiques remarquables avec un état fondamental antiferromagnétique (AFM) et une transition vers un état ferromagnétique (FM) qui peut être induite par le champ appliqué ou par la température. A basse température la transition métamagnétique AFM-FM est accompagnée d'une hystérésis très large et est caractérisée par des sauts spectaculaires comme l'illustre nos mesures magnétiques, de magnétostriction ou de transport. La transition métamagnétique s'avère également fort sensible à la pression appliquée. Le composé intermétallique LaFe12B6 est caractérisé par une forte expansion thermique linéaire, un large effet magnétovolumique et présente à la fois des effets magnétocaloriques inverse et normal. L'effet de la substitution du cobalt ou du manganèse au fer ou du cérium au lanthane sur les propriétés structurales et magnétiques a été étudié de façon détaillée. La substitution Co/Fe ou Mn/Fe entraine dans les deux cas une forte augmentation du champ critique de la transition métamagnétique. Inversement la substitution Ce/La, quant à elle, réduit fortement le champ de transition. L'étude de l'alliage amorphe LaFe12B6, préparé par hypertrempe, montre des propriétés magnétiques radicalement différentes puisque la phase amorphe devient alors ferromagnétique avec une haute température de Curie. Enfin nous avons étudié les propriétés magnétiques intrinsèques du système intermétallique Hf1-xTaxFe2 pour lequel la solution solide est complète. L'analyse de l'ensemble des mesures a mis en lumière des comportements originaux du magnétisme du fer et ceci tant dans l'état ordonné que dans l'état paramagnétique. Le caractère inhabituel du magnétisme de ces composés est attribué au comportement d'électrons itinérants, lequel est à l'origine de la transition métamagnétique entre l'état AFM et l'état FM. / Our multidisciplinary study includes the synthesis of intermetallic compounds and the characterization of their structural and magnetic properties. Our work has focused on RT12B6 borides where R is a rare earth element or yttrium and T a 3d transition metal as well as (Hf, Ta)Fe2 Laves phases. In order to understand the physical properties of these compounds, we have implemented various external variables (temperature, magnetic field, pressure) as well as internal variables such as the chemical pressure due to the substitution of one element with another. Through this experimental work, we investigated the magnetic properties of RCo12B6 compounds. The magnetic properties of these compounds present both an ordering temperature which is quasi independent of the rare earth element R and a remarkably small magnetic moment of Co. We show that the R-Co exchange interactions are more than an order of magnitude smaller that the Co-Co occurring in these compounds. We demonstrated that the iron for cobalt substitution in RCo12B6 compounds gives rise to a preferential substitution scheme. Combining Mössbauer spectroscopy and neutron diffraction, we have found that the magnetic ordering direction is extremely sensitive to Fe/Co substitution. LaFe12B6 compound presents remarkable magnetic properties with an antiferromagnetic (AFM) ground state but it can be transformed into a ferromagnetic (FM) state by the applied magnetic field or by the temperature. At low temperature, the field-induced AFM-FM metamagnetic transition has a large hysteresis and exhibits ultra sharp jumps as shown in our magnetic, magnetostriction and transport measurements. The metamagnetic transition is also very sensitive to the applied pressure. LaFe12B6 intermetallic compound shows a large linear thermal expansion, a huge volume magnetostriction and both normal and inverse magnetocaloric effects. The effect of cobalt or manganese for iron substitution or cerium for lanthanum substitution on the structural and magnetic properties was deeply investigated. Co/Fe or Mn/Fe substitution in both cases leads to a strong increase of the critical field of the metamagnetic transition. However Ce/La substitution reduces strongly the transition field. The investigation of LaFe12B6 amorphous alloy, prepared by melt spinning, shows radically different magnetic properties since the amorphous phase becomes ferromagnetic with a high Curie temperature. Finally we studied the intrinsic magnetic properties of the Hf1-xTaxFe2 system for which the solid solution is complete. The analysis of all the measurements highlighted original behaviours of the iron magnetism and this both in the ordered state and in the paramagnetic state. These remarkable properties are attributed to the itinerant character of the Fe 3d band magnetism, which gives rise to the metamagnetic transition between the AFM and FM states.

After the prediction of magnetoelectric effect in Cr2O3, in early 1960's, D. Asrov became the first to experimentally verify this phenomenon. After the pioneering work on magnetoelectric materials in 1960's and 1970's, the discovery of large magnetoelectric effect in orthorhombic rare-earth manganite TbMnO3 has revived great interest in magnetoelectric materials, especially during the last decade. Magnetoelectric multiferroics have great potential in applications such as novel memory storage devices and sensors. As a result of extensive theoretical and experimental investigations conducted on rare-earth magnetoelectric manganites, TbMnO3 has become a prototype magnetoelectric multiferroic material. Orthorhombic rare-earth manganites RMnO3 (R = Gd, Tb and Dy) exhibit improper ferroelectricity where the origin of ferroelectricity is purely magnetic in nature. RMnO3 exhibit diverse and complex magnetic interactions and phases. Doped manganites of the type R1-xAxMnO3 (A = Ca, Sr and Ba) present a rich magnetic and electronic phase diagram. The doping concentration, average ion-size and size mismatch (i.e. disor-der) at A-site, all contribute to determine the ground state. A variety of magnetic phases, competing with each other, are responsible for many functional properties like magnetoelectric effect, colossal magnetoresistance (CMR), magnetostriction and magnetocaloric effect (MCE). In this context, studies of magnetoelectric materials are of great relevance from technical as well as fundamental aspects. Notably, complexity of electronic (and magnetic) phases and experimental difficulties in acquiring reliable measurement-data easily are the most concerning issues in establishing a clear understanding of magnetoelectric materials. In the magnetic phase diagram of RMnO3, GdMnO3 lies on the border between A-type antiferromagnetic and cycloidal antiferromagnetic ground states. Cycloidal spin arrangement is responsible for the induction of ferroelectricity in these materials. There are disparate opinions about the ground state of GdMnO3 (whether the ground state is ferroelectric or not). Understanding of the influence of rare-earth magnetic sublattice on magnetism in GdMnO3 (at low temperature) lacks clarity till date. Neutron scattering studies on GdMnO3 due to high absorption cross-section of Gd ion, yield little success in determining the nature of complex magnetic phases in this material. Interestingly, an earlier report on strontium-substituted gadolinium manganite Gd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 demonstrated the spontaneous electric polarization and related magnetoelectric effect. It was hypothesized that the observed ferroelectricity could be improper and electronic in nature. Strontium doping facilitates quenched disorder that leads to interesting magnetic phases and phase transitions. In order to understand the physical properties of gadolinium manganites and to unravel the relationship between them, it is essential to investigate high quality single crystals of these materials. This thesis deals with growth and investigation of several important physical phenomena of gadolinium manganites such as magnetic, electric, magnetoelectric and magnetocaloric properties. The thesis is organized in seven chapters. A brief summary of each chapter follows: Chapter:1 This chapter provides general introduction to magnetoelectric effect and multiferroicity. The term multiferroicity refers to simultaneous existence of magnetic and electric ordering in a single phase material. Magnetoelectric multiferroics have shown great potential for several applications. They exhibit cross coupling between the electronic and magnetic order parameters, hence basics of various magnetic interactions (and magnetism) are brie y discussed in the rst section of the chapter. It is followed by a brief discussion about the principle of magnetoelectric effect. Magnetoelctric coupling is broadly classified into two types namely, direct coupling and indirect coupling. In the former, the emphasis is given on linear magnetoelectric effect. The concept of multiferroicity is introduced in the next section followed by a brief overview and application potential of multiferroics. Further, classi cation scheme of multiferroic materials is discussed. The concept of improper ferroelectricity and description of subcategories namely, magnetic ferroelectric, geometric ferroelectric and electronic ferroelectric are documented. Magnetic ferroelectric category is considered the most relevant; featuring the type of ferroelectric material as GdMnO3 referred in this thesis. The microscopic theory for mechanism of ferroelectricity in spiral antiferromagnets is presented. While brie ng the thermodynamic background of the magnetocaloric effect, indirect estimation of two important characteristics namely, isothermal magnetic entropy change (∆SM ) and adiabatic change in temperature (∆Tad) under the application of magnetic field are dealt with. In the last part of the chapter, motivation and scope of the thesis is discussed. Chapter:2 This chapter outlines various experimental methodologies adopted in this work. It describes the basic principles of various experimental techniques and related experimental apparatuses used. The chapter starts with the synthesis tech-niques used in the preparation of different compounds studied. The principle of oat-zone method, employed for single-crystal growth, is described. Orientation of single crystals was determined using a home-built back- reflection Laue set up. The basics of Laue reflection and indexing procedure for recorded Laue photographs are described. Various physical properties (electric, magnetic, thermal, magnetoelectric and magnetocaloric properties) were studied using commercial as well as home-built experimental apparatuses. Design and working principle of all the experimental tools are outlined in this chapter. Fabrication details, interfacing of measurement instruments and calibration (standardization) of equipment used in this work are described in appropriate sections. Chapter:3 Chapter-3 describes the investigation of various physical properties of high quality single crystals of magnetoelectric multiferroics, GdMnO3. Synthesis of GdMnO3 is carried out using solid state synthesis route. Single phase nature of the material is confirmed by X-ray powder diffraction technique. Single crystals of GdMnO3 are grown in argon ambience using oat-zone method. As grown crystals are oriented with the help of back-reflection Laue method. GdMnO3 exhibits incommensurate collinear antiferromagnetic phase below 42 K and transforms to canted A-type antiferromagnetic phase below 23 K. Magnetic and specific heat studies have revealed very sharp features near the magnetic transitions which also confirm the high quality of the single crystal. dc magnetization studies illustrate the anisotropic behavior in canted A-type antiferromagnetic phase and clarifies the influence of rare-earth magnetic sub-lattice on overall magnetism (at low temperature). Application of magnetic field (above 10 kOe) along `b' axis helps formation of the cycloidal antiferromagnetic phase. Here, spontaneous electric polarization is induced along `a' axis. The temperature variation plot of dielectric constant, ϵa (under ap- plied magnetic field along `b' axis) shows sharp anomalies in the vicinity of magnetic ordering transitions suggesting magnetodielectric effects. Magnetic field tuning of electric polarization establish the magnetoelectric nature of GdMnO3. Magnetocaloric properties of single crystals of GdMnO3 are investigated using magnetic and magnetothermal measurements. The magnitude of the giant magnetocaloric effect observed is compared with that of other rare-earth manganite multiferroics. Magnetocaloric studies shed light on magnetic ordering of rare-earth ion Gd3+. The phenomenon of inverse magnetocaloric effect observed at low temperature and under low fields is possibly linked to the ordering of Gd3+ spins. Complex interactions between the 3d and 4f magnetic sublattices are believed to influence magnetocaloric properties. Chapter:4 The details of synthesis and single crystal growth of Gd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 using oat-zone method are presented in Chapter 4. Single phase nature of the material is veri ed by carrying out powder x-ray diffraction analysis and confirmation of single crystallinity and orientation through back-reflection Laue method. Electric transport studies reveal semiconductor-like nature of Gd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 until the lowest temperature achieved. This is due to charge localization process which occurs concurrently with decrease in temperature. Gd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 exhibits charge-ordered insulator (COI) phase below 90 K (ac-cording to an earlier report). It is found that under application of magnetic field above a critical value, charge ordering melts and the phase transforms to ferromagnetic metallic (FMM) phase. This transformation is first-order in nature with associated CMR (109%). The first-order phase transition (FOPT) occurs between competing COI and FMM phases and manifests as hysteresis across the FOPT. Strontium doping at A-site induces a large size mismatch at A-site resulting in high quenched disorder in Gd0.5Sr0.5MnO3. The disorder plays a significant role in CMR as well as glass-like dynamics within the low-temperature magnetic phase. ac susceptibility studies and dynamic scaling analysis reveal very slow dynamics inside the low-temperature magnetic phase (below 32 K). According to an earlier report, spontaneous electric polarization and magnetoelectric effect were pronounced near FOPT (at 4.5 K and 100 kOe) between COI and FMM phases. It is prudent to investigate FOPT across COI and FMM phases in Gd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 to understand complex magnetic phases present. Thermodynamic limits of the FOPT (in magnetic field - temperature (H-T) plane), such as supercooling and superheating, are experimentally determined from magnetization and magnetotransport measurements. Interestingly, thermomagnetic anomalies such as open hysteresis loops are observed while traversing the FOPT isothermally or isomagnetically in the H-T plane. These anomalies point towards incomplete phase transformation while crossing the FOPT. Phenomenological model of kinetic arrest is invoked to understand these anomalies. The model put for-ward the idea that while cooling across the FOPT, extraction of specific heat is easier than that of latent heat. In other words, phase transformation across FOPT is thermodynamically allowed but kinetics becomes very slow and phase transformation does not occur at the conventional experimental time scale. Magnetization relaxation measurements (at 89 kOe) with field-cooled magnetization protocol reveal that the relaxation time constant rst decreases with temperature and later, increases non-monotonically below 30 K. This qualita-tive behavior indicates glass-like arrest of the FOPT. Further, thermal cycling studies of zero field-cooled (ZFC) and eld-cooled (FC) magnetization indicate that a low temperature phase prepared with ZFC and FC protocols (at 89 kOe) is not at equilibrium. This confirms the kinetic arrest of FOPT and formation of magnetic phase similar to glass. Chapter:5 Chapter-5 deals with the investigation of the effect of an electric field on charge ordered phase in Gd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 single crystals. As discussed in the previous chapter, application of magnetic field above a critical value collapses the charge ordered phase which transforms to FMM phase. In this view, it is interesting to investigate effect of electric field on the charge ordering. There are various reports on doped manganites such as Pr1-xCaxMnO3 (x = 0:3 to 0:4) that claim melting of charge ordering under application of electric field (or current) above a critical value. In this thesis work, current - voltage (I - V) characteristics of Gd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 are studied at various constant temperatures. Preliminary measurements show that the I-V characteristics are highly non-linear and are accompanied by the onset of negative differential resistance (NDR) above a critical current value. However, we suspect a major contribution of Joule heating in realization of the NDR. Continual I - V loop measurements for five loops revealed thermal drag and that the onset of NDR shifts systematically towards high current values until it disappeared in the current window. Two strategies were employed to investigate the role of Joule heating in realization of NDR: 1) monitoring the sample surface temperature during electric transport measurement and 2) reducing of the Joule heating in a controlled manner by using pulsed current I - V measuremenets. By tuning the duty cycle of the current pulses (or in other words, by controlling the Joule heating in the sample), it was feasible to shift the onset of NDR to any desired value of the current. At low magnitude of the duty cycle in the current range upto 40 mA, the NDR phenomenon did not occur. These experiments concluded that the NDR in Gd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 is a consequence of the Joule heating. Chapter:6 `Chapter-6 deals with the thermal and magnetocaloric properties of Gd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 oriented single crystals. Magnetocaloric properties of Gd0.5Sr0.5MnO3 have been studied using magnetic and magnetothermal measurements. Tempera-ture variation of ∆SM is estimated for magnetic field change of 0 - 70 kOe. The eld 70 kOe is well below the critical magnetic eld required for FOPT between COI and FMM phases. Magnetzation - field (M-H) loop shows minimal hysteresis for measurements up to 70 kOe. The minimal hysteresis behavior al-lows one to make fairly accurate estimation of magnetocaloric properties. ∆Tad was separately estimated from specific heat measurements at different magnetic fields. Specific heat studies show the presence of Schottky-like anomaly at low temperature. Chapter:7 Finally, Chapter-7 summarizes various experimental results, analyses and conclusions. A broad outlook of the work in general with future scope of research in this area are outlined in this chapter.

Les structures magnétiques de deux familles de composés sont déterminées et discutées : (i) celles des hydrures RTXH (R = terre rare, T = métal de transition et X = Si, Ge) cristallisant dans la structure de type ZrCuSiAs et obtenus par insertion d’hydrogène dans les intermétalliques quadratiques de type CeFeSi. L’hydrogénation induit des transitions magnétiques variées engendrées par la compétition entre la dilatation anisotrope de la maille cristalline causée par l’absorption d’hydrogène et l’apparition de la liaison chimique R-H; (ii) celles des siliciures ternaires R6T1.67Si3 (R = Ce, Nd, Gd, Tb et T = Co, Ni) présentant des propriétés magnétocaloriques significatives autour de leur température de Curie, en particulier ceux à base de gadolinium Gd6T1.67Si3. Les composés à base de Ce, Nd et Tb présentent des comportements magnétiques originaux qui sont expliqués par la détermination de leurs structures magnétiques. La nature complexe de ces propriétés résulte en partie de la présence de deux sites magnétiques pour R et d’un désordre atomique de l’élément T dans la structure cristallographique. / Magnetic structures of two families of compounds are determined and discussed : (i) those of the hydrides RTXH (R = Rare earth, T = transition metal and X = Si, Ge) crystallizing in the ZrCuSiAs-type structure and obtained by hydrogen insertion in the intermetallics adopting the tetragonal CeFeSi-type structure. Hydrogenation induces various magnetic transitions governed by the competition between the anisotropic unit cell expansion linked to hydrogen absorption and the occurrence of the R-H chemical bonding ; (ii) those of the ternary silicides R6T1.67Si3 (R = Ce, Nd, Gd, Tb and T = Co, Ni) which show significant magnetocaloric properties around their Curie temperature, especially those based on gadolinium Gd6T1.67Si3. The compounds based on Ce, Nd and Tb present original magnetic behaviors which are explained by their magnetic structures determination. The origin of these complex properties results especially from the presence of two magnetic sites for R and from an atomic disorder of the T element in the crystallographic structure.