Determination of atomic sites of Nb dissolved in metastable Fe₂₃B₆ phase

The primary metastable phase in the Fe₇₀Nb₁₀B₂₀ amorphous alloy is the complex fcc Fe₂₃B₆ phase with a large lattice parameter. The atomic site of Nb atoms in this metastable phase was determined by the anomalous X-ray scattering (AXS) method. Nb atoms in the metastable phase located at the similar position expected in the local structural unit in the amorphous state. Thus, the precipitation of the metastable phase does not require long-distance diffusion of Nb atoms in the amorphous matrix.