Bi-continuous nanoporous metals of continuous ligaments and pores have been applied in a wild range of applications for their high specific areas and good electrical conductivities. Electrochemical dealloying, the most common method to fabricate nanoporous metals, selectively dissolve one or more components from an alloy, via a mechanism of percolation dissolution. Recently, many studies demonstrated the generality of percolation dissolution, including the applications in liquid metal dealloying, vapor phase dealloying, and reduction-induced dealloying. In this dissertation, we will broaden the scope of percolation dissolution to fabricate new bicontinuous structures and to explain practically important battery processes. In Chapter 2, we realize the fabrication of monolithic bi-continu...[ Read more ]

Bi-continuous nanoporous metals of continuous ligaments and pores have been applied in a wild range of applications for their high specific areas and good electrical conductivities. Electrochemical dealloying, the most common method to fabricate nanoporous metals, selectively dissolve one or more components from an alloy, via a mechanism of percolation dissolution. Recently, many studies demonstrated the generality of percolation dissolution, including the applications in liquid metal dealloying, vapor phase dealloying, and reduction-induced dealloying. In this dissertation, we will broaden the scope of percolation dissolution to fabricate new bicontinuous structures and to explain practically important battery processes. In Chapter 2, we realize the fabrication of monolithic bi-continuous nanoporous AgCl, produced through the selective dissolution of the NaCl component in Ag_1-xNa_xCl solid solution. The process displays a parting limit and coarsening similar to electrochemical dealloying. In Chapter 3, we demonstrate that the electrochemical reduction of a ZnO anode, the charging process in alkaline Zn batteries, is also a process of percolation dissolution toward the formation of nanoporous Zn, whose condition of formation can be explained by the percolation threshold. In Chapters 4 & 5, we optimize this particular case of percolation dissolution for the fabrication of a uniform nanoporous Zn anode and apply it to a high-performance Zn-NiOOH battery. By analyzing the structural and compositional evolution of this anode, we show that its high stability under a deep depth of discharging is connected to the unique structure of nanoporous metal.