Co-B amorphous alloy nanochains with enhanced magnetization and electrochemical activity prepared in a biphasic system

Co-B amorphous alloy in the form of nanochains was prepared by chemical reduction of cobalt ions with borohydride in a dodecanethiol/water biphasic system. Such Co-B nanochains were comprised of uniform Co-B nanoparticles connected in one-dimension through electrostatic force between the induced dipoles. Dodecanethiol molecules played a key role in the formation of Co-B nanochains by covering Co-B nanoparticles via strong chemisorption bond which stabilized Co-B nanoparticles against gathering and also generated induced electric dipoles. The linear array of Co-B amorphous alloy nanoparticles resulted in the superposition of magnetic moments and also facilitated the electron transfer, leading to the enhanced magnetization and electrochemical activity.