Porous Metals via Ice Templating

Michael Bagge-Hansen | 18-ERD-032

Executive Summary

We are exploring the development of a new class of low-density materials using a novel process of freeze-casting aqueous suspensions of metals to create metal foams with nanometer-scale porosities. These metal foams are instrumental in high-energy-density science research for use in laser targets and have applications in both energy and national security.

Publications, Presentations, Etc.

Fears, T., et al. 2018. "Ultra-Low-Density Metal Nanowire Aerogels." 4th International Seminar on Aerogels, Hamburg, Germany, September 2018. LLNL-ABS-751402.

––– . 2018 "In Situ Characterization of Freeze-Cast Metal Nanowire Aerogels." Proceedings of the American Vacuum Society 65th International Symposium and Exhibition, Long Beach, CA, October 2018. LLNL-ABS-750731.

––– . 2019 "Ultra-Low-Density Metal Aerogels for Laser Targets." University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics 23rd Target Fabrication Meeting, Annapolis, MD, April 2019. LLNL-ABS-766300.

Qian, F., et al. 2019. "Gold Aerogel Monoliths with Tunable Ultralow Densities." Nano Letters 2019. doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b03445. LLNL-JRNL-762478.

Troksa, A., et al. 2019. "Fabricating Ultra-Low-Density Nanoporous Metals by Freeze-Casting Nanowire Suspensions." Materials Research Society Fall Meeting and Exhibit, November 2018, Boston, MA. LLNL-ABS-753118.