Porous metallic structures by dealloying amorphous alloys

This review presents existing results on the formation of porous metal structures by selective dissolution of metallic glasses. The compositions of the initial amorphous alloys, the conditions of chemical and electrochemical selective dissolution, the morphology and microstructure of the resulting porous structures, and their main applications are included and discussed. The examined results have allowed to make some generalizations concerning the influence of the precursor alloy composition, the type and concentration of electrolytes, temperature, and time of selective dissolution on the phase composition, shape and size of pores and ligaments of the final porous material. Certain conclusions are also formulated to guide potential researchers in the search for suitable amorphous alloys and de-alloying conditions to achieve porous structures with predefined properties and hence sought applications.