The effect of annealing time on the electronic structure of the Fe-Cu-Nb-Si-B alloys

Three nanocrystalline (nc-) Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 (nc-FCNSB) samples were ob tained from amorphous (a-) Fe73.5Cu1Nb3Si13.5B9 (a-FCNSB) samples by anneal ing for 30, 60, and 170 min at a temperature of 550 degreesC. X-ray absorpt ion near-edge-structure (XANES) spectra of these samples were measured at t he Fe L-3,L-2-edge using the sample drain current mode at room temperature. The intensities in the Fe L-3,L-2-edge XANES spectra of nc-FCNSBs are sign ificantly different from that of the Fe-Si-B alloy, indicating that Cu and Nb strongly influence the Fe 3d local electronic structure. Crystallization of the FCNSB alloy under the optimum annealing condition improves the magn etic properties of the nc-FCNSB alloys. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.