Density functional theory study of energetics, local chemical environment and magnetic properties in a high-entropic MnNiSi0.2Ge0.2Sn0.2Al0.2Ga0.2 intermetallic magnet

Abstract

Rare-earth-free magnetostructural MnNiSi-based solid solutions are considered as promising candidates for solid-state cooling applications. In this paper, we use density functional theory calculations to study the energetics, variations in atomic displacements and bond length, and magnetic properties of high-entropic, intermetallic MnNi-X (X = Si0.2Ge0.2Sn0.2Al0.2Ga0.2) magnet in both the low-symmetry Pnma and high-symmetry P63/mmc structures, where we confine the large configurational entropy to the non-magnetic X-site of the compound. Our calculations reveal that the high-entropic chemical substitution of Si0.2Ge0.2Sn0.2Al0.2Ga0.2 in the X-site carry fingerprints that favor a reduction in magnetostructural transition temperature with minimal impact of total magnetization. These results motivate a promising path of high-entropic X-site substitutions to tune the magnetostructural properties of MnNiSi-based solid solutions.