A surface-porous Mg-Al eutectic alloy was fabricated at room temperature via electrochemical dealloying in a neutral, aqueous 0.6 M NaCl solution by controlling the applied potential and processing duration. Selective dissolution occurred on the alloy surface. The surface-porous formation mechanism is governed by the selective dissolution of the alpha-Mg phase, which leaves the Mg17Al12 phase as the porous layer framework. The pore characteristics (morphology, size, and distribution) of the dealloyed samples are inherited from the alpha-Mg phases of the precursor Mg70.5Al29.5 (at.%) alloy. Size control in the porous layer can be achieved by regulating the synthesis parameters. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.