Nanoporous gold periodical linear patterns obtained by laser interference thermal treatment

• Ag/Au alloys are produced by annealing by laser interference metallurgy.
• Line patterns are obtained after laser treatment.
• Patterned nanoporous gold is obtained by chemical de-alloying.

Micrometric periodical gold/silver alloy linear patterns have been prepared by thermal annealing of bilayer thin films (gold/silver) by means of laser interference metallurgy. These alloyed lines alternate with non-alloyed gold/silver thin films. A chemical attack with a nitric acid solution produces the dealloying of the annealed patterns (by preferential removal of the less noble material), and thus, the linear patterns acquire a nanoporous structure. These nanostructured lines alternate with gold thin films produced after the elimination of the silver thin film in the non-alloyed areas.