Fabrication of nanoporous copper surface by leaching of chill-zone Cu–Zr–Hf alloys

[Display omitted] In present work we report the synthesis of nanoporous surface using a copper-based alloy via leaching the less noble element-rich phase out of nanostructured ternary Cu–Hf–Zr alloys. The removal of Hf and Zr by mixed acid etchants in the chill-zone region of rapidly solidified ingots leads to the formation of a nano-roughened surface layer constituted of copper. The average pore and grain size of the obtained structure were shown to be less than 100nm and 50nm respectively.