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. (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.