Formation of a nanoporous layer on the surface of silver and copper by dealloying of thermal diffusion coatings Me₅Zn₈ (Me=Ag, Cu) in a deep eutectic solvent

ABSTRACT

Selective anodic dissolution of pre-galvanized surfaces was used to obtain nano-porous layers of approximately 10 microns thick on copper and silver specimens. To achieve single-phase homogeneous thermal diffusion layers of Cu₅Zn₈ and Ag₅Zn₈, we used a zinc plating process carried out in molten eutectic (KCl–NaCl–ZnCl₂) at Т = 370°С. Dealloying of these coatings in a deep eutectic solvent (choline chloride/urea + 0.1 mol/l ZnCl₂) at T = 133°C produced a typical bi-continuous structure of pores and ligaments (100 nm) on the surface of the silver and the copper.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS:

• Coatings
• electrochemical dealloying
• deep eutectic solvents
• silver
• copper
• zinc

Acknowledgements

This research was partially performed using the facilities of the Shared Access Centre ‘Composition of Compounds’.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Russian Science Foundation (RSF) [22-23-20073].