Formation of nanoporous silver by dealloying Ca-Ag metallic glasses in water

A family of novel Ca-Ag metallic glasses with a wide range of Ag concentration was developed. Nanoporous silver was fabricated under mild conditions, i.e. the dealloying of the Ca-Ag metallic glasses in water under free corrosion conditions. The resulting nanoporous silver shows tunable ligament size, high surface area, and good eletrochemical catalytic activity for the oxidation of formaldehyde. The nanoporous silver synthesized by the convenient route is significant for potential applications in catalysis, sensors, etc.