Soft magnetic Co-Fe-B-P and Co-Fe-V-B-P amorphous alloy nano-particles prepared by aqueous chemical reduction

Nano-sized amorphous alloy particles with excellent soft magnetic properties have been prepared in Co-Fe-B-P and Co-Fe-V-B-P alloy systems by using a chemical alloying process. In this process, Co, Fe and V ions were reduced by KBH₄ and NaH₂PO₂ in an aqueous solution. The precipitated metal atoms (or atomic clusters) as well as the B and P atoms, which from KBH₄ and NaH₂PO₂ coalesced together and formed multicomponent particles. The study of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy showed that these particles were amorphous alloy particles. The average particle size was measured to be about 15 nm and the specific surface areas of particles changed from 31.06 to 142.20 m²/g depending on the molar ratio of the components. The largest saturation magnetization value of 1.2 T was obtained in Co_73.77Fe_3.58B_17.46P_3.14 V_1.39 alloy.