Nanofoam

Nanofoams are a class of nanostructured, porous materials, foams, containing a significant population of pores with diameters less than 100 nm. Aerogels are one example of nanofoam.[1]

Metal nanofoams

In 2006, Dr. Bryce Tappan, Dr. Steven F. Son and coworkers at Los Alamos National Laboratory discovered a technique for producing metal nanofoams by igniting pellets of energetic metal bis(tetrazolato)amine complexes. Nanofoams of iron, cobalt, nickel, copper, silver, and palladium have been prepared through this technique. These materials exhibit densities as low as 11 mg/cm3, and surface areas as high as 258 m2/g. These foams are effective catalysts and are being investigated for other applications.[2]

See also

References

  1. Tappan, B. et al. (2006). "Ultralow-Density Nanostructured Metal Foams:  Combustion Synthesis, Morphology, and Composition". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 128 (20): 6589. doi:10.1021/ja056550k.
  2. R&D magazine 100 Awards. Access date Aug. 26, 2008.