Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) and X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) study of melt-spun Fe85Ga15 ribbons

The local structure in melt-spun Fe85Ga15 ribbons with a width similar to 3mm and thickness similar to 60 mu m produced in argon atmosphere was studied by analyzing EXAFS and XANES data. The following results were obtained: Ga-Ga bonds were not detected excluding the tendency to form clusters of Ga atoms; Ga substitutes Fe creating a local strain of about +1% on the first shell Fe-Ga bond, whereas on the second Fe-Ga shell strain quickly relaxes down to +0.3%; XANES spectra are compatible with a random substitution of Fe atoms by Ga atoms in the A2 structure. From the AFM investigation, we observed that at the surface ( free side) of the ribbon the particles are elongated along the ribbon (similar to 2 mu m x similar to 5 mu m)and each particle is formed by small grains of average size of 200 nm. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.