The effect of stoichiometric variation on the magnetocaloric properties of Mn0.5$+$xFe0.5Ni1-x Si0.95 Al0.05 alloys.

Magnetocaloric effect (MCE) signifies the thermodynamic phenomenon in which the application of an external magnetic field alters the temperature of a special class of materials. These materials are known as Magnetocaloric materials (MCMs). In recent years a wide variety of materials have been designed and discovered that exhibit giant magnetocaloric effects. However, most of these materials are often prepared either by rare earth, expensive, or toxic elements. Therefore, the discovery of new MCMs remains an active field of research. Keeping this discussion in mind, we are investigating the magnetocaloric properties of a series of Mn0.5$+$xFe0.5Ni1-xSi0.95Al0.05. The constituent elements of the system are cheap and abundant, which makes them a promising candidate for magnetic refrigeration. The crystalline and magnetic properties of the samples will be presented and discussed.