Monolithic Micro/Nanoporous Copper: Preparation, Mechanical and Electrocatalytic Properties

Abstract

In this study, monolithic micro/nanoporous copper is prepared by sintering and dealloying, that is, the micro/nanoporous copper is obtained by chemical dealloying of a sintered microporous Cu–Mn alloy. The porosity and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area are 68% and 6.77 m²·g⁻¹, respectively. The micropore and nanopore sizes are 2.44 ± 0.48 µm and 69 ± 16 nm, respectively. The mechanical property is investigated by nanoindentation. The hardness and elastic modulus are 282 ± 65 MPa and 8.25 ± 1.63 GPa, respectively. Indentation creep occurs with a creep depth of 44 ± 7 nm. The electrocatalytic property towards the oxidation of methanol and glucose are investigated using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The monolithic micro/nanoporous copper exhibits high electrocatalytic activity and stability. The oxidation peak current density in methanol or glucose alkaline solution is 17 or 51 times that of smooth copper.

Fig. 1 (a) XRD spectra of MP-CuMn and MNP-Cu, (b), (c) SEM images of MP-CuMn, (d)–(f) SEM images, and (g) nitrogen adsorption and desorption isotherm of MNP-Cu.