La(Fe,Si/Al)13-based materials with exceptional magnetic functionalities: a review

The field of magnetic functional materials continues to garner significant attention due to its research and diverse applications, such as magnetic storage and spintronics. Among these, La(Fe,Si/Al)13-based materials exhibit abundant magnetic properties and emerge as highly captivating subjects with immense potential. This review provides an overview of the diverse magnetic structures and itinerant electron metamagnetic transition observed in La(Fe,Si/Al)13-based materials. The transformation of different magnetic configurations elicits the phenomena such as negative thermal expansion, magnetostriction, magnetocaloric effect, and barocaloric effect. In addition, the pivotal role of spin and lattice coupling in these phenomena is revealed. The magnetic functionalities of La(Fe,Si/Al)13-based materials can be controlled through adjustments of magnetic exchange interactions. Key methods, including chemical substitution, external field application, and interstitial atom insertion, enable precise modulation of these functionalities. This review not only provides valuable insights into the design and development of magnetic functional materials but also offers significant contributions to our understanding of the underlying mechanisms governing their magnetic behaviors.