Eur. Phys. J. AP 9, 147-151 (2000)
https://doi.org/10.1051/epjap:2000212

Phase analysis of nanocomposite magnetic materials by electron energy loss spectrometry

¹ Institut für Angewandte und Technische Physik, Technische Universität Wien, 1040 Wien, Austria
² LMSS-Mat, CNRS-URA 850, École Centrale Paris, grande voie des Vignes, 92295 Châtenay-Malabry, France

Received: 8 June 1999
Revised: 19 October 1999
Accepted: 17 January 2000
Published online: 15 February 2000

Abstract

EELS (electron energy loss spectrometry) in the transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to determine the composition of a nanocrystalline magnetic specimen. The relative amounts of the hard magnetic phase Nd₂Fe₁₄B and the soft magnetic phase Fe₃B at the point of measurement was measured by standard EELS quantification. In order to determine the structure of Fe₃B present, the fine structure of the boron K-ionisation edge was analysed. Comparison of the experimental spectra with simulations of the fine structures based on the TELNES extension of the WIEN97 program package, a full potential linearised augmented plane wave approach to the calculation of electronic structure in crystals, shows that the tetragonal form of Fe₃B is predominant.