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Abstract

Single phase Mn0,66Fe1.29P1-xSix (0 <= x <= 0.42) compounds were synthesized using the melt-spinning (rapid solidification) technique. All the compounds form in the Fe2P-type hexagonal structure, except a Co2P-type orthorhombic structure of the Si-free Mn0.66Fe1.29P compound. The compounds with 0.24 <= x <= 0.42 present a FM-PM phase transition, while the compounds with lower Si content show an AFM-PM phase transition. In the Mn0.66Fe1.29P1-xSix compounds, T-c and triangle T-hys are not only Si content dependent, but also magnetic field dependent. By increasing the Si content from x = 0.24 to 0.42, Tc increases from 195 to 451 K and triangle T-hys is strongly reduced from similar to 61 to similar to 1 K. Tc increases and triangle T-hys decreases with increasing magnetic field, triangle T-c/triangle B is about 4.4 KIT. Mn0.66Fe1.29P1-xSix compounds show large saturation magnetic moments with values up to 4.57 mu B/f.u.. A large MCE with a small thermal hysteresis is obtained simultaneously in Fe-rich Mn0.66Fe1.29P1-xSix melt-spun ribbons. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.