Co-P alloy coatings were electrodeposited with pulse current using gluconate bath and characterized by XRD, FESEM, AFM, DSC and XPS. Co-P alloy coatings are amorphous in nature as demonstrated by XRD. FESEM exhibits the "cauliflower type" morphology that is distinctive of nanocrystalline metals and alloys. Co-P alloys are found to follow instantaneous growth mechanism as revealed by AFM studies. Two exothermic peaks at 320 and 340 degrees C in DSC profiles of Co-P deposit correspond to the crystallization of the deposit. Detailed XPS studies of these alloy coatings have shown that as-deposited coatings consist of Co metal as well as oxidized Co species. P has mostly been present as bulk alloy on the surface as P delta- form. Increase in the amounts of Co metal and P delta- are observed upon intermittent sputtering. No appreciable increase in microhardness is observed with increase in the phosphorous content, but it increases with heat treatment significantly. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.