In-situ electrochemical synthesis of 1-dimensional aluminananostructures

Abstract

One dimensional (1-D) alumina nanostructures were electrochemically synthesized on the surface of a porous anodic aluminium oxide (p-AAO) membrane by carefully controlling the temperature, voltage and time for anodization of aluminium foil. These nanostructures were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. X-Ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction patterns prove that the as-prepared materials are amorphous. Anodizations of Al foil at different conditions were carried out as control experiments. A possible mechanism of formation (electric-field-assisted chemical dissolution) is postulated.