Versatile Synthesis of Nanofoams through Femtosecond Pulsed Laser Deposition

Nanofoam materials are gaining increasing interest in the scientific community, thanks to their unique properties such as ultralow density, complex nano- and microstructure, and high surface area. Nanofoams are attractive for multiple applications, ranging from advanced catalysis and energy storage to nuclear fusion and particle acceleration. The main issues hindering the widespread use of nanofoams are related to the choice of synthesis technique, highly dependent on the desired elemental composition and leading to a limited control over the main material properties. Herein, femtosecond pulsed laser deposition is proposed as a universal tool for the synthesis of nanofoams with tailored characteristics. Nanofoams made by elements with significantly different properties-namely, boron, silicon, copper, tungsten, and gold-can be produced by suitably tuning the deposition parameters. The effect of the background pressure is studied in detail, in relation to the morphological features and density of the resulting nanofoams and nanostructured films. This, together with the analysis of the specific features shown by nanofoams made of different elements, offers fresh insights into the aggregation process and its relation to the corresponding nanofoam properties down to the nanoscale, opening new perspectives toward the application of nanofoam-based materials. Nanofoams and nanostructured materials unique properties attract interest for multiple applications, ranging from energy storage to nuclear fusion. Composition and material properties control are fundamental, and femtosecond pulsed laser deposition is shown to be a universal and versatile tool for tailored nanofoam synthesis. The background pressure effects on morphology and density are studied, providing useful insights into the aggregation mechanisms.image (c) 2024 WILEY-VCH GmbH