An Investigation of the Structure of Amorphous Co-P Alloys. 2: EXAFS at the Phosphorous K-edge, a Feasibility Study

Abstract Amorphous Co 100-x P x foils in the concentration range 13.4 ≤ x ≤ 26 were produced by electrodeposition. The extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) at the phosphorous K-edge was measured in transmission mode. The phase shift was determined from the EXAFS spectrum of a crystalline Co 2 P reference sample. The EXAFS spectra of the amorphous Co-P alloys are characterized mainly by one single contribution from a shell of Co-atoms at a distance of 2.3 Å around the P-atoms. A small additional contribution at a shorter distance of 2.0 Å may be a hint on some direct P-P neighbours. The evaluation of reliable coordination numbers from the EXAFS spectra of the amorphous alloys is not possible.