A soft magnetic alloy comprising a main component having a compositional formula of ((Fe.sub.(1−(α+β))X1.sub.αX2.sub.β).sub.(1−(a+b+c))M.sub.aB.sub.bCr.sub.c).sub.1−dC.sub.d, and a sub component including P, S and Ti, wherein X1 is selected from the group Co and Ni, X2 is selected from the group Al, Mn, Ag, Zn, Sn, As, Sb, Bi and rare earth elements, “M” is selected from the group Nb, Hf, Zr, Ta, Mo, W and V, 0.030≤a≤0.14, 0.005≤b≤0.20, 0<c≤0.040, 0≤d≤0.040, α≥0, β≥0, and 0≤α+β≤0.50 are satisfied, when soft magnetic alloy is 100 wt %, P is 0.001 to 0.050 wt %, S is 0.001 to 0.050 wt %, and Ti is 0.001 to 0.080 wt %, and when a value obtained by dividing P by S is P/S, then P/S satisfies 0.10≤P/S≤10.

A coil component includes a magnetic portion that includes metal particles and a resin material, a coil conductor embedded in the magnetic portion and having a core portion, and outer electrodes electrically connected to the coil conductor. The magnetic portion includes a magnetic outer coating and a magnetic base having a protrusion portion. The coil conductor is disposed on the magnetic base such that the protrusion portion is located in the core portion. The magnetic outer coating is disposed so as to cover the coil conductor, and the bottom surface of the magnetic base includes a recessed portion in an area opposite to the protrusion portion.

A coil component includes a magnetic portion that includes metal particles and a resin material, a coil conductor embedded in the magnetic portion and having a core portion, and outer electrodes electrically connected to the coil conductor. The magnetic portion includes a magnetic outer coating and a magnetic base having a protrusion portion. The coil conductor is disposed on the magnetic base such that the protrusion portion is located in the core portion. The magnetic outer coating is disposed so as to cover the coil conductor, and the bottom surface of the magnetic base includes a recessed portion in an area opposite to the protrusion portion.

Provided is an iron-based powder for dust core with which a dust core with low iron loss and high insulation properties can be obtained. In the iron-based powder for dust core of the present disclosure, a median particle size calculated based on cumulative volume frequency of particles of the iron-based powder for dust core is 150 μm or less, and cumulative volume frequency of the particles with an aspect ratio of 0.70 or less is 70% or less, and a median aspect ratio calculated based on cumulative volume frequency is 0.60 or more.

A thermoelectric conversion element includes: a thermoelectric conversion material portion composed of a material having a band gap; a first electrode disposed in contact with the thermoelectric conversion material portion; a second electrode disposed in contact with the thermoelectric conversion material portion and disposed to be separated from the first electrode; and a sealing portion that seals the thermoelectric conversion material portion. A partial pressure of oxygen in a region surrounding the thermoelectric conversion material portion is maintained by the sealing portion so as to be lower than a partial pressure of oxygen in an external air.

Certain aspects of the technology disclosed herein include an apparatus and method for programming a crystal lattice structure of a nanoparticle. A particle programming apparatus can include an input channel connected a particle sampling system. The particle sampling system can direct freshly milled nanoparticles to the particle programming apparatus if the nanoparticles are determined to be below a threshold size. The particle programming apparatus can include one or more programming devices configured to alter a crystal lattice of the received nanoparticles including an ultrasonic sound generator, a magnetic pulse generator, and a voltage generator. The one or more programming devices applies any of a sound, magnetic pulse, and voltage to the received nanoparticles within a time threshold of receiving the nanoparticles from the mill core.

Certain aspects of the technology disclosed herein include an apparatus and method for programming a crystal lattice structure of a nanoparticle. A particle programming apparatus can include an input channel connected a particle sampling system. The particle sampling system can direct freshly milled nanoparticles to the particle programming apparatus if the nanoparticles are determined to be below a threshold size. The particle programming apparatus can include one or more programming devices configured to alter a crystal lattice of the received nanoparticles including an ultrasonic sound generator, a magnetic pulse generator, and a voltage generator. The one or more programming devices applies any of a sound, magnetic pulse, and voltage to the received nanoparticles within a time threshold of receiving the nanoparticles from the mill core.

Provided is a soft magnetic powder that can produce a dust core having excellent magnetic properties. The soft magnetic powder has a chemical composition, excluding inevitable impurities, represented by a composition formula of Fe.sub.aSi.sub.bB.sub.cP.sub.dCu.sub.eM.sub.f, where the M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Mo, Zr, Ta, W, Hf, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, C, Al, S, O, and N, 79 at %≤a≤84.5 at %, 0 at %≤b<6 at %, 0 at %<c≤10 at %, 4 at %<d≤11 at %, 0.2 at %≤e≤0.53 at %, 0 at %≤f≤4 at %, a+b+c+d+e+f=100 at %, a particle size is 1 mm or less, and a median of circularity of particles constituting the soft magnetic powder is 0.4 or more and 1.0 or less.

Provided is a soft magnetic powder that can produce a dust core having excellent magnetic properties. The soft magnetic powder has a chemical composition, excluding inevitable impurities, represented by a composition formula of Fe.sub.aSi.sub.bB.sub.cP.sub.dCu.sub.eM.sub.f, where the M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Nb, Mo, Zr, Ta, W, Hf, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, C, Al, S, O, and N, 79 at %≤a≤84.5 at %, 0 at %≤b<6 at %, 0 at %<c≤10 at %, 4 at %<d≤11 at %, 0.2 at %≤e≤0.53 at %, 0 at %≤f≤4 at %, a+b+c+d+e+f=100 at %, a particle size is 1 mm or less, and a median of circularity of particles constituting the soft magnetic powder is 0.4 or more and 1.0 or less.

Boron-based amorphous alloys and a preparation method thereof is provided. The composition formula of the alloys is B.sub.aCo.sub.bRE.sub.cX1.sub.dX2.sub.eX3.sub.f, wherein RE is any one or more of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd, Dy, Er and Y; X1 is any one or more of C, Si and Al; X2 is any one or two of Fe and Ni; X3 is any one or more of Zr, Nb, Mo, Hf, Ta and W; and a, b, c, d, e and f respectively represent atomic percent of each corresponding element in the formula, where: 45≤a≤55, 25≤b≤40, 10≤c≤20, 0≤d≤10, 45≤a+d≤55, 0≤e≤20, 25≤b+e≤40, 0≤f≤3, 10≤c+f≤20 and a+b+c+d+e+f=100. The preparation method of the boron-based amorphous alloy comprises: preparing master alloy ingots using an arc furnace or an induction melting furnace; and then obtaining amorphous ribbons with different thicknesses by a single copper roller melt-spinning equipment.