Effect of Dealloying Condition on the Formation of Nanoporous Structure in Melt-Spun Al60Ge30Mn10 Alloy

Effect of dealloying condition on the formation of nanoporous structure in melt-spun $Al_{60}Ge_{30}Mn_{10}$ alloy has been investigated in the present study. In as-melt-spun $Al_{60}Ge_{30}Mn_{10}$ alloy spinodal decomposition occurs in the undercooled liquid during cooling, leading to amorphous phase separation. By immersing the as-melt-spun $Al_{60}Ge_{30}Mn_{10}$ alloy in 5 wt% HCl solution, Al-rich amorphous region is leached out, resulting in an interconnected nano-porous $GeO_x$ with an amorphous structure. The dealloying temperature strongly affects the whole dealloying process. At higher dealloying temperature, dissolution kinetics and surface diffusion/agglomeration rate become higher, resulting in the accelerated dealloying kinetics, i.e., larger dealloying depth and coarser pore-ligament structure.