Nanoporous metallic materials are an exceedingly interesting class of materials with unique physical and chemical properties. In particular Nanoporous gold (NPG) is interesting for its applications in electrocatalysis, SERS and as sensor due to its peculiar properties. A technique which has gained substantial fascination for tailoring NPG morphology and properties is dealloying, in which the removal of the less noble metal from a solid solution allow Au ad-atoms to rearrange by surface diffusion forming a network of interconnected ligaments and pores.

In this work, different dealloying strategies were applied on Au₃₃Fe₆₇ rapidly solidified precursor to determine the evolution of morphologies and kinetics of dealloying.

The change in dealloying medium from 1 M HNO₃ to in 1M HCl enable the formation of ligaments and pores of various sizes and shapes. Different temperatures and times were applied in the dealloying process and as-dealloyed samples were structurally and compositionally investigated using XRD, FESEM and EDS techniques.

The change in morphology observed was correlated with a change in properties, in particular, Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) and electrocatalysis were checked. SERS enhancement was determined using 4,4′ -bi-pyridine probe molecule and substrates with high number of hot-spots and limit of detection of 10-14 M were observed.

The Nanoporous Gold was examined as an electrocatalyst for methanol electro-oxidation profiting of its large surface area. In a basic solution of methanol and KOH, the sample displays a low peak potential of 0.47 V vs. Ag/AgCl for methanol electro-oxidation with a high peak current density of 0.43 mA/cm². In addition, it demonstrates outstanding stability and high poisoning tolerance.

The use of limited amount of Au with cheap and abundant Fe in the precursor gives an exceedingly cost-effective starting material. Moreover, the employment of a straight-forward and rapid dealloying procedure to obtain the NPG sample, makes for an overall inexpensive and sustainable production of an advanced material for innovative applications.