Fabrication and characterization of bulk nanoporous Cu with hierarchical pore structure

In the present study, bulk nanoporous Cu materials with hierarchical porous structure and fine ligaments have been facilely fabricated through chemical dealloying of CuAl alloy that prepared by suction casting. Effect of dealloying temperature on the formation of nanoporous Cu was investigated. Results reveal that robust bulk nanoporous Cu with no noticeable volume shrinkage can be prepared. The Fe adatoms may act as activation barrier for the surface diffusion of Cu adatoms, which is beneficial for the refinement of nanoporous Cu. Moreover, thermal coarsening behavior of nanoporous Cu was also investigated.