Poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) films were irradiated by means of heavy ions (in the electronic stopping‐power range) and electrons. Both types of ionizing radiation induce in the polymer film ionizations and excitations, but swift heavy ions induce a huge density of excitations and ionizations along the ion path. Dose‐range goes from 0.3 to 40 MGy. Irradiations were performed with Kr ions in the presence of helium, hydrogen, deuterium, and oxygen. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) transmission measurements show differences in the nature of the created defects. Triple bonds are characteristic of the Kr ion irradiation. Double bonds, isolated and conjugated, exist for both kinds of radiation, but concentrations are higher with the Kr radiation. The presence of oxygen during irradiation produces oxidization defects. Typical bands of hydroxyls and carbonyls can be seen, respectively, in the 3800‐3000 cm−1 zone and ca. 1850–1730 cm−1. The formation of conjugated double bonds is enhanced when the Kr irradiation is performed under an O2 atmosphere. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Membrane-based synthesis, also called template synthesis, is a very general approach used to prepare arrays of nanomaterials with monodispersed geometrical features. The most commonly used porous templates are track-etched polycarbonate and porous anodic alumina membranes. Common to all these templates is the fact that the pores are perpendicular to the surface of the membrane. Here, a novel approach is presented, where the pores are synthesized parallel to the surface of the membrane. For the first time, the anodic oxidation of an aluminum thin film is performed laterally, i.e., parallel to the surface of the substrate, instead of perpendicular as usually done. For low anodic oxidation voltages (between 3 and 5 V) we obtain highly regular and ordered pore arrays, at least over a few hundred nanometers length, with a minimum pore size of approximately 3 to 4 nm. With such porous alumina structures, the controlled in-plane organization of arrays of template-grown nanowires and carbon nanotubes for reproducible device fabrication should be much easier.