Controllable Fabrication and Microstructure Modulation of Unique AAO Structures Based on Patterned Aluminum Surface

Abstract

In this paper, three types of unique anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) structure were fabricated based on patterned aluminum surface:(1) AAO with three-dimensional (3D) interconnected pores; (2) controllable self-assembled AAO nanowires; (3) supporting AAO skeleton structures. Patterned aluminum surface was obtained by using high voltage anodization processes (400-600 V) in ethanoloxalic acid electrolyte and a following AAO removing method. The voltage/current-time curves during anodization were analyzed in detail. Moreover, the AAO microstructure, film thickness, and film growth rate have been studied based on smooth and also on patterned aluminum surface. In addition, the influences of anodization and etching conditions on AAO microstructure evolutions, e.g., 3D interconnected pores, controllable self-assembled nanowires and supporting skeleton structures have also been investigated. The present fabrication methods for obtaining unique AAO structures are facile, effective, and inexpensive, facilitating practical applications of AAO in diverse related fields.

Recent Advances in Nanoporous Anodic Alumina: Principles, Engineering, and Applications

“…Such possibility was reported later, with the work of Jin et al [ 179 ]. Not only the size of the initial patterning on the aluminum surface increased, but also more complex pore profile was achieved.…”

Enhanced water splitting performance of GaN nanowires fabricated using anode aluminum oxide templates

“…First, 200 nm SiO 2 was grown on a GaN substrate via plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). 31 Then, three types of AAO membranes with a pore size of 60, 100 and 300 nm were transferred onto the SiO 2 . The diameters and pitch of holes for AAO were 60 and 100, and 100 and 140, 300 and 450 nm, respectively.…”

A Modified Quantitative Method for Regularity Evaluation of Porous AAO and Related Intrinsic Mechanisms

“…As a type of widely used materials, anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) and their fabrication processes have been studied for more than 150 years. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] In 1995, Masuda et al firstly developed a two-step anodization process, using which porous AAO films with highly ordered nanopores could be fabricated, and nanoprous metal arrays could also be obtained via a further replication process. 5 This technique has opened a new window for porous AAO films that can be used as porous templates in the applications of modern nanomaterials and nanodevices.…”