Characterization of as-synthesized FeCo magnetic nanoparticles by coprecipitation method

FeCo nanoparticles were synthesized by a coprecipitation method without any post treatments. The structure, morphology, and magnetic properties of the FeCo nanoparticles formed at different sodium borohydride reaction times (5, 10, 20, and 30 min) were examined. X-ray diffraction revealed the representative alpha-FeCo peaks in all samples. The mean crystalline sizes slightly decreased from 31 nm to 21 nm with increasing reducing agent reaction time. A maximum saturation magnetization of 204 emu/g at 300 K was obtained in the sample with a reaction time of 5 min. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics.