Effect of praseodymium and cobalt substitution on magnetic properties and structures in La(Fe1-xSix)13 compounds

Magnetic properties and structures in La1-zPrz(Fe0.895-xCoxSi0.105)13 (x=0.07, 0.08; z=0, 0.2, 0.4) compounds were investigated. When Pr and Co substituted for La and Fe, the Curie temperature of the compounds was adjusted to around room temperature. The magnetic phase transition was driven from first-order to second-order due to Co substitution. As a second-order phase transition material, the MCE of La0.6Pr0.4(Fe0.825Co0.07Si0.105)13, whose relative cooling power was 175 J/kg under a field change of 2 T, was larger than some representative first-order phase transition materials. Suitable Curie temperature and large values of RCP made it an attractive potential candidate for room temperature magnetic refrigeration application.