Methods for forming nanostructures of various shapes are disclosed. Nanocubes, nanowires, nanopyramids and multiply twinned particles of silver may by formed by combining a solution of silver nitrate in ethylene glycol with a solution of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) in ethylene glycol. Hollow nanostructures may be formed by reacting a solution of solid nanostructures comprising one of a first metal and a first metal alloy with a metal salt that can be reduced by the first metal or first metal alloy. Nanostructures comprising a core with at least one nanoshell may be formed by plating a nanostructure and reacting the plating with a metal salt.

Methods for forming nanostructures of various shapes are disclosed. Nanocubes, nanowires, nanopyramids and multiply twinned particles of silver may by formed by combining a solution of silver nitrate in ethylene glycol with a solution of poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) in ethylene glycol. Hollow nanostructures may be formed by reacting a solution of solid nanostructures comprising one of a first metal and a first metal alloy with a metal salt that can be reduced by the first metal or first metal alloy. Nanostructures comprising a core with at least one nanoshell may be formed by plating a nanostructure and reacting the plating with a metal salt.

A castable, moldable, or extrudable magnesium-based alloy that includes one or more insoluble additives. The insoluble additives can be used to enhance the mechanical properties of the structure, such as ductility and/or tensile strength. The final structure can be enhanced by heat treatment, as well as deformation processing such as extrusion, forging, or rolling, to further improve the strength of the final structure as compared to the non-enhanced structure. The magnesium-based composite has improved thermal and mechanical properties by the modification of grain boundary properties through the addition of insoluble nanoparticles to the magnesium alloys. The magnesium-based composite can have a thermal conductivity that is greater than 180 W/m-K, and/or ductility exceeding 15-20% elongation to failure.

A sintered metal object comprises metal fibers in a nonwoven web arrangement. The metal fibers comprise stainless steel fibers having a duplex microstructure. The duplex microstructure is a mixed microstructure of austenite and ferrite. The stainless steel fibers are bonded at at least part of their contacting points by means of sinter bonds.

A porous copper sintered material (10) includes: a plurality of copper fibers (11) sintered each other, wherein the copper fibers (11) are made of copper or copper alloy, a diameter R of the copper fibers (11) is in a range of 0.02 mm or more and 1.0 mm or less, and a ratio L/R of a length L of the copper fibers to the diameter R is in a range of 4 or more and 2500 or less (11), redox layers (12) formed by redox treatment are provided on surfaces of copper fibers (11, 11), and concavities and convexities are formed by the redox layer (12), and each of redox layers (12, 12) formed on each of the copper fibers (11) is integrally bonded in a junction of the copper fibers (11).

Aspects relate to method of zinc-comprising nanowire fabrication, the method comprising forming a starting material comprising zinc metal or zinc metal alloy and at least one reactive metal, and exposing the starting material to one or more alcohols to obtain a reaction product comprising zinc-comprising nanowires, wherein the at least one reactive metal is more reactive than zinc to the one or more alcohols.

A castable, moldable, or extrudable magnesium-based alloy that includes one or more insoluble additives. The insoluble additives can be used to enhance the mechanical properties of the structure, such as ductility and/or tensile strength. The final structure can be enhanced by heat treatment, as well as deformation processing such as extrusion, forging, or rolling, to further improve the strength of the final structure as compared to the non-enhanced structure. The magnesium-based composite has improved thermal and mechanical properties by the modification of grain boundary properties through the addition of insoluble nanoparticles to the magnesium alloys. The magnesium-based composite can have a thermal conductivity that is greater than 180 W/m−K, and/or ductility exceeding 15-20% elongation to failure.

A porous aluminum body having high porosity and a manufacturing method therefor are provided, wherein the porous aluminum body can be manufactured by continuous manufacturing steps. In the present invention, this porous aluminum body includes a plurality of aluminum fibers connected to each other. The aluminum fibers each have a plurality of columnar protrusions formed at intervals on an outer peripheral surface of the aluminum fibers, the columnar protrusions protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface. Adjacent aluminum fibers are integrated with the aluminum fibers and the columnar protrusions.

A nanofiber based micro-structured material including metal fibers with metal oxide coatings and methods are shown. In one example, nanofiber based micro-structured material is used as an electrode in a battery, such as a lithium ion battery, where the nanofibers of micro-structured material form a nanofiber cloth with free-standing, core-shell structure.

A nanofiber based micro-structured material including metal fibers with metal oxide coatings and methods are shown. In one example, nanofiber based micro-structured material is used as an electrode in a battery, such as a lithium ion battery, where the nanofibers of micro-structured material form a nanofiber cloth with free-standing, core-shell structure.