HIERARCHY

Hierarchical nanoporous materials present superior functionality compared to conventional nanoporous structures: efficient mass transport and increased accessibility of active sites contribute to enhance their catalytic and sensing capabilities. The hierarchical structures also exhibit improved mechanical strength and structural stability compared to their non-hierarchical counterparts, making them ideal candidates for applications demanding robust materials. This research project focuses on exploring the hierarchical porous materials synthesized through innovative approach combining additive manufacturing (or 3D-printing) and liquid metal dealloying. Integrating 3D-printing into the fabrication process introduces yet another dimension to the potential of hierarchical nanoporous materials. The shape freedom of 3D-printing allows for precise control over the architecture and geometry of the hierarchical structures, paving the way for tailoring novel materials with unprecedented functionality. The objectives of the project are the following: (i) to explore the possibilities of combining additive manufacturing and liquid metal dealloying to elaborate hierarchical porous structures with controlled porosity and microstructures. (ii) to model quantitatively the liquid metal dealloying process for the systems under study (TiCu dealloyed in Mg and NbTi dealloyed in Cu) and for arbitrary complex geometries in order to predict the dealloying depth and composition gradients as function of time. (iii) to explore scaling laws for the mechanical properties of hierarchical porous structures by a combination of mechanical tests on the dealloyed samples and numerical simulations relying on the finite element method.