Nanoporous Copper Fabricated by Mechanically Rubbing the Surface of the Amorphous Alloy

TL;DR

This paper shows how rubbing the surface of an amorphous alloy can create nanoporous copper with better stability and adhesion.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel method of using friction-induced surface roughness to enhance nanoporous copper formation and stability.

Findings

Friction-induced surface roughness significantly increases the thickness of nanoporous copper layers during dealloying.

Higher surface roughness improves adhesion and reduces crack propagation in nanoporous copper.

Appropriate surface roughness enhances the long-term stability of nanoporous copper.

Abstract

A surface treatment of amorphous alloy was conducted using reciprocating friction, and precursors with varying degrees of surface roughness were selectively etched to form a three-dimensional nanoporous structure with interconnected networks. The wear behavior induced by friction facilitates dealloying to different extents. While altering the surface roughness of the amorphous alloy, this method preserves its unique structure and maintains the advantages of the precursor in preparing nanoporous materials (NPMs). Under identical dealloying conditions, the thickness of the nanoporous copper layer on the rougher surface (with a surface roughness of approximately 0.808) is significantly greater than that on the smoother surface (with a surface roughness of approximately 0.002), and this disparity increases over time. The findings indicate that friction-induced changes in surface roughness play a crucial role in the preparation of nanoporous copper via dealloying. Modifying the surface roughness through friction can enhance the dealloying process, improve the adhesion between the nanoporous copper (NP-Cu) layer and the amorphous matrix, and mitigate crack propagation during NP-Cu formation and under stress. Selecting an appropriate level of roughness can enhance the long-term stability of NP-Cu.

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