Thesis supervisor: Csilla Wiener
Location of studies (in Hungarian): Department of Materials Science and Technology Abbreviation of location of studies: ATT
Description of the research topic:
a.) Preliminaries:
There are many different manufacturing processes with them nano- and microporous copper foams with high surface area can be developed. These foams are suitable for the applications such as electrodes in batteries or biological filters. Due to the high specific surface, the performance of these foam electrodes is higher than the performance of the existing battery. However, the produced copper nanofoams’ strength is insufficient yet.
b.) Aim of research:
This research aims to investigate how to modify the already existing metal foam manufacturing techniques so that the surface area of the metal foam does not change significantly, and the resulting metal foam has a higher strength than that found in the literature.
c.) Tasks, main items, necessary time:
• Literature review. The review should focus on powder metallurgy or casting processes that can be used to manufacture nano- and microporous metal foams. The dealloying method should also be included. (time required: approx. 6 months).
• Setting of the manufacturing parameters of the different applicable technologies (time required: approx. 24 months).
• Fine-tuning of the production; studying of how the different manufacturing parameters change the surface area and strength of the foams to find an optimum (time required: approx. 12 months).
• Investigating the feasibility of using the metal foam as a battery electrode; writing the thesis (time required: approx. 6 months).
d.) Required equipment:
Vacuum furnace, equipment for metallography investigations, MTS
e.) Expected scientific results:
The manufacturing of metal foams with a high specific surface area of pores with diameter microns or less with high enough strength to be able to apply in batteries as electrodes or biological filters.
It can also be used as an electrode or biological filter to
f.) References:
• Kicheol Hong et al: Comparison of morphology and compressive deformation behavior of copper foams manufactured via freeze-casting and space-holder methods, Journal of Materials Research and Technology (2021) 15, 6855-6865, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmrt.2021.11.108
• Gubicza, J.; et al.: Effect of Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Performance of Cu Nanofoams Processed by Dealloying. Materials 2021, 14, 2691. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14102691
• Gubicza, J et al.:. Effect of Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Performance of Cu Nanofoams Processed by Dealloying. Materials 2021, 14, 2691. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14102691