Bilayer nanoporous copper films with various morphology features synthesized by one-step dealloying

The newly designed bilayer Cu-Al precursor films with different Cu contents were prepared by magnetron co-sputtering. Through dealloying the precursor films, bilayer nanoporous copper (NPC) films with various morphology features were synthesized. The impacts of the features of precursor films and dealloying solution species on the final NPC film products were investigated. The direct evidence of the process of how dealloying front penetrates into the interior of precursor films was revealed. Our findings not only help understand the mechanisms occurring during the dealloying process of copper-based films, but also bring inspirations of manufacturing other novel NPC materials in the future.