Progress in Nanoporous Templates: Beyond Anodic Aluminum Oxide and Towards Functional Complex Materials

Successful synthesis of ordered porous, multi-component complex materials requires a series of coordinated processes, typically including fabrication of a master template, deposition of materials within the pores to form a negative structure, and a third deposition or etching process to create the final, functional template. Translating the utility and the simplicity of the ordered nanoporous geometry of binary oxide templates to those comprising complex functional oxides used in energy, electronic, and biology applications has been met with numerous critical challenges. This review surveys the current state of commonly used complex material nanoporous template synthesis techniques derived from the base anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) geometry.

Luminescent Organic Barcode Nanowires for Effective Chemical Sensors

Chemical materials are sometimes harmful to the environment as well as humans, plants, and animals. Thus, high-performance sensor systems have become more important in the past few decades. To achieve pH scale sensing in nanosystems, we applied luminescence polymer nanowires with alumina oxide template method with electrochemical polymerization. We made polymer nanowire barcode by alternately stacking poly(3-methylthiophene) (P3MT) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) in a nanoporous template. After polymerization, a hydrofluoric acid solvent was used to remove the template, and, for changing the pH scale, we used sodium hydroxide. We measured optical properties of each part of barcode using Raman scattering and photoluminescence and confirmed that only P3MT was changed by alkali treatment.

Synthesis of Co nanotubes by nanoporous template-assisted electrodeposition via the incorporation of vanadyl ions

Co nanotubes can be easily prepared by nanoporous template-assisted electrodeposition via the incorporation of VO2+ ions, which assist Co ions in adhering to the pore walls.

Investigation of the Preparation of Anodized Nanoporous Alumina Array

This study produced a regularly arranged membrane, called anodic aluminum oxide (referred AAO), by mean of anodic oxidation treatment. The structure of AAO can be molecular self-assembly and its pore size is consistent. Also, the manufacturing process cost is low. These properties make the AAO be a nanotemplate material. This study further created a high quality of nanostructured film by electrochemical mould with the design of electrolyzer. In addition, a uniform nanothin film was grown on the aluminum surface in the stable control of current and temperature according to the conditions of different anode treatment. This film can form a nanopore array which the diameter can be controlled the size ranging from 15 nm to 400 nm. As results, the study can produce nanoporous template for various aperture by mean of anodic oxidation.