Demands for new, energy-efficient appliances have greatly increased in response to our growing need for a more environmentally friendly society. Magnetic refrigeration is a technique that utilizes the magnetocaloric effect, with possible energy savings of up to 30% compared to commercial gas compression refrigerators. A material appropriate for commercial magnetocaloric devices should be both cheap and non-toxic; it should also exhibit a first-order magnetic transitions close to room temperature. The magnetic properties of Fe2P-related materials can be relevant in this context, since their magnetic properties can be finely tuned through the substitution of Fe by Mn and P by Si, As, Ge or B to meet the general requirements for a magnetocaloric device. An in-depth study has therefore here been made of the structural and magnetic properties of the (Fe,Mn)2(P,Si)-system. The phase diagram of the FeMnP1-xSix-system has been carefully re-examined. It is found to contain two single-phase regions: an orthorhombic Co2P-type structure (x < 0.15) and a hexagonal Fe2P-type structure (0.24 ≤ x < 0.50). Selected compounds within the Fe2P-type region of the phase diagram have been shown to exhibit potential for use in magnetic refrigeration applications. Neutron powder diffraction has here been used to determine the magnetic structures of selected crystalline compositions within the FeMnP1-xSix-system to gain a better understanding of its magnetic properties. The Fe2P-type region is mainly ferromagnetic, but an incommensurate antiferromagnetic structure has also been identified close to the Co2P/Fe2P-type phase border for x ≈ 0.25. The so-called ''virgin effect'' in the Fe2P-type region of the FeMn(P,Si) phase diagram is found to be accompanied by an irreversible structural phase transition induced by magnetostriction. This new phase is found to be preserved during successive cooling-heating cycles. Furthermore, the magnetic properties of the substituted Fe2P-type structure changes significantly for metal:non-metal ratios away from 2:1. Such deviations could well explain the apparently conflicting structure-property relationships described in earlier literature for the FeMnP1-xSix-system.

Ever since the discovery of the giant magnetocaloric effect (GMCE) in the Gd5(Si,Ge)4 phases, magnetic cooling has gained significant interest because of its potential environmental benefits and increased efficiency compared to vapour-based refrigeration. This current work is focused on one of the most promising GMCE systems, the (Mn,Fe)2(Si,P) materials. An alternative synthetic route has been explored for the Mn2-xFexSi0.5P0.5 and MnFeSiyP1-y series which is capable of producing phase-pure samples. The new preparation technique eliminates common impurities that arise from established methods thus providing a more accurate description of the structural and physical properties. The low cost, non-toxicity, abundance of starting materials and easy tuning of the magnetic properties make these materials desirable for potential applications. Phase-pure magnetocaloric Mn2-xFexSi0.5P0.5 materials (x = 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, 0.9) were synthesized through arc-melting followed by high temperature sintering. Structural features of samples with x = 0.6, 0.9 were studied through temperature dependent synchrotron powder x-ray diffraction. Magnetic measurements established the Curie temperature, thermal hysteresis, and magnetic entropy change of this system. According to the diffraction and magnetization data, all of the samples were shown to have a first-order magnetostructural transition which becomes less pronounced for Mn-richer samples. The MnFeSixP1-x phases (x = 0.30, 0.35, 0.40, 0.48, 0.52, 0.54, 0.56) have also been synthesized by the same method. For the first time, single crystals of x = 0.30, 0.40 were successfully grown. Variable temperature x-ray diffraction experiments for x = 0.30 were completed which show the structural changes across the phase transition. This structural data was complemented with magnetization data providing Curie temperatures and thermal hysteresis. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)