Effect of heat treatment of Mn-Cu precursors on morphology of dealloyed nanoporous copper

• Published in: Journal of Central South University Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 17 - 21
• Main Authors: Tan, Xiu-lan, Li, Kai, Niu, Gao, Yi, Zao, Luo, Jiang-shan, Liu, Ying, Han, Shang-jun, Wu, Wei-dong, Tang, Yong-jian
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Central South University 01.01.2012
• Subjects: Engineering; Metallic Materials; nanoporous copper; dealloying; heat treatment; morphology; preparation
• ISSN: 2095-2899; 2227-5223
• DOI: 10.1007/s11771-012-0966-9

Nanoporous copper with nano-scale pore size was synthesized by dealloying Mn-Cu precursor alloy using a free corrosion method. The effects of heat treatment of Mn-Cu precursors on alloy phase, morphology and composition of the resultant nanoporous copper were investigated. It is revealed that the compositions distribute homogeneously in the bulk Mn-Cu precursors, which consequently results in a more fully dealloying for forming nanoporous copper. The alloy phase changes from Cu 0.49 Mn 0.51 and Cu 0.21 Mn 0.79 of non-thermally treated precursor to Cu 0.33 Mn 0.67 of heat treated alloy. The residual Mn content in nanoporous copper is decreased from 12.97% to 2.04% (molar fraction) made from the precursor without and with 95 h heat treatment. The typical pore shape of nanoporous copper prepared by dealloying the precursor without the heat treatment is divided into two different zones: the uniform bi-continuous structure zone and the blurry or no pore structure zone. Nanoporous copper is of a uniform sponge-like morphology made from the heat-treated precursor, and the average ligament diameter is 40 nm, far smaller than that from the non-thermally treated precursor, in which the average ligament diameter is estimated to be about 70 nm.