Dealloying Fabrication， Structural Regulation and Applications of Nanoporous Metals： Insights from Dilute Solid Solution Precursors

Abstract:

The dealloying strategy based on dilute solid solution precursor holds significant importance in nanoporous metal fabrication. While conventional dealloying is constrained by the narrow compositional range of binary alloys, the dilute solid solution precursors achieve precise control over porous architectures by substantially expanding the tunable compositional range and optimizing kinetic pathways. Results show that structures such as high-aspect-ratio nanoporous microwires, ultra-high porosity freestanding thin films, and nested hierarchical nanoporous metals are fabricated, demonstrating significant advantages in functional applications: electrocatalytic materials achieve enhanced hydrogen evolution performance by optimizing surface electronic structures; solar steam generation devices leverage hierarchical porosity and localized surface plasmon resonance effects to attain broadband light absorption and efficient evaporation; and electroactuator materials overcome the limits of strain amplitude and strain rate by hierarchical network design. Critically, this strategy reveals a novel mechanism for synergistically resolving the fundamental compromise between high specific surface area/mass transfer efficiency and mechanical stability through the coordinated design of precursor composition and dealloying parameters.