Nano-structured materials produced from simple metallic alloys by phase separation

A method which is able to produce different types of nano-structured materials, namely nano-particles, nano-structured surfaces and nano-porous membranes, from two-phase metallic alloys is reviewed. The new process first establishes nano-structures in the bulk alloy and then separates them by selective phase dissolution. Variation in processing makes it possible to produce different types of nano-structure even from the same alloy. The process can be applied to many different alloy systems. An overview is presented emphasizing the versatility of the process with examples of different nano-structure types that can be produced. Further, the new method is discussed in relation to similar processes (specifically, electrochemical processes) which have been used for nano-structure synthesis.