Formation, control and functionalization of nanoporous zinc by selective corrosion of Al-Zn alloys with varying compositions

This work investigates the impact of alloy composition on the microstructure and phase distribution of rapidly solidified Al-Zn alloys. The results demonstrate that the size and distribution of alpha-Al grains vary with the Zn content, and a Zn-rich phase precipitates along the grain boundaries with Zn content over 15 at%. Furthermore, the alloy composition of the Al-Zn precursors significantly influences the formation, microstructure, crack appearance and length scale of ligaments in nanoporous zinc (NP-Zn) prepared by dealloying. Additionally, the activity and selectivity of NP-Zn in CO2 electroreduction were explored in an aqueous KHCO3 electrolyte. The results indicate that a smaller ligament size of NP-Zn is more conducive to enhancing the catalytic performance. The research underscores the potential for adjusting the nanostructure of NP-Zn by controlling the composition of precursor alloys, providing valuable insights for designing efficient Zn-based electrocatalysts. Nanoporous zinc with a bicontinuous ligament/channel structure has abundant active sites and fast charge transfer behavior, leading to efficient conversion of CO2 to CO.