Anodic Alumina Membranes: From Electrochemical Growth to Use as Template for Fabrication of Nanostructured Electrodes

The great success of anodic alumina membranes is due to their morphological features coupled to both thermal and chemical stability. The electrochemical fabrication allows accurate control of the porous structure: in fact, the membrane morphological characteristics (pore length, pore diameter and cell density) can be controlled by adjusting the anodizing parameters (bath, temperature, voltage and time). This article deals with both the fabrication and use of anodic alumina membranes. In particular, we will show the specific role of the addition of aluminum ions to phosphoric acid-based anodizing solution in modifying the morphology of anodic alumina membranes. Anodic alumina membranes were obtained at −1 °C in aqueous solutions of 0.4 M H3PO4 added with different amounts of Al(OH)3. For sake of completeness, the formation of PAA in pure 0.4 M H3PO4 in otherwise identical conditions was also investigated. We found that the presence of Al(OH)3 in solution highly affects the morphology of the porous layer. In particular, at high Al(OH)3 concentration (close to saturation) more compact porous layers were formed with narrow pores separated by thick oxide. The increase in the electric charge from 20 to 160 C cm−2 also contributes to modifying the morphology of porous oxide. The obtained anodic alumina membranes were used as a template to fabricate a regular array of PdCo alloy nanowires that is a valid alternative to Pt for hydrogen evolution reaction. The PdCo alloy was obtained by electrodeposition and we found that the composition of the nanowires depends on the concentration of two metals in the deposition solution.

Preparation and Preliminary Evaluation of Silver-Modified Anodic Alumina for Biomedical Applications

The present study reports a specific method for preparation of silver-modified anodic alumina substrates intended for biomaterial applications. Al2O3 coatings were obtained by anodization of technically pure aluminum alloy in sulfuric acid electrolyte. Silver deposition into the pores of the anodic structures was carried out employing in situ thermal reduction for different time periods. The obtained coatings were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), potentiodynamic scanning after 168 h in 3.5% NaCl solution and bioassays with human fibroblast and NIH/3T3 cell lines. The modified alumina substrates demonstrated better biocompatibility compared to the control anodic Al2O3 pads indicated by increased percent cell survival following in vitro culture with human and mouse fibroblasts. The Ag-deposition time did not affect considerably the biocompatibility of the investigated anodic layers. SEM analyses indicated that mouse NIH/3T3 cells and human fibroblasts adhere to the silver-coated alumina substrates retaining normal morphology and ability to form cell monolayer. Therefore, the present studies demonstrate that silver coating of anodic alumina substrates improves their biocompatibility and their eventual biomedical application.

THERMAL STUDIES OF POROUS ALUMINUM OXIDE MEMBRANES

Изучение оптических свойств наноразмерных мембран пористого анодного оксида алюминия позволяет значительно расширить области применения данного материала. В работе представлены результаты тепловизионных исследований мембран пористого анодного оксида алюминия с различными структурными параметрами. Построены профили распределения температуры для мембран, полученных в различных электролитах на основе серной, щавелевой и ортофосфорной кислотах. Установлено, что экранирование ИК излучения сильнее (примерно на 30%) проявляется у мембран с меньшим диаметром пор d ≈ 20 нм по сравнению с мембранами, у которых d ≈ 200 нм. Это связано с рассеиванием теплового излучения на неоднородностях структуры, которых значительно больше в мембранах пористого анодного оксида алюминия, полученных на серной кислоте. В качестве источников неоднородности выступают поры малого диаметра, недотравленные области и дефекты. Также, за счет повышенной активности серной кислоты по сравнению с другими используемыми кислотами большее количество анионов встраивается в структуру образца. Study of optical properties of nanoscale membranes of porous anodic alumina can significantly expand the scope of this material. The paper presents the results of thermal imaging studies of porous anodic alumina membranes with various structural parameters. Temperature distribution profiles for membranes obtained in various electrolytes based on sulfuric, oxalic and orthophosphoric acids have been constructed. It was found that the shielding of IR radiation is more pronounced (approximately 30 %) in membranes with a smaller pore diameter d ≈ 20 nm compared to membranes with a larger pore diameter d ≈ 200 nm. This is due to the scattering of thermal radiation on structural inhomogeneities, which are much higher in porous anodic alumina membranes obtained with sulfuric acid. Small-diameter pores, under-etched areas and defects act as sources of inhomogeneity. Also, due to the increased activity of sulfuric acid in comparison with other acids used, more anions are incorporated into the structure of the sample.

Study of coloured anodized coatings on aluminum alloy by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Anodizing, porous anodic alumina, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, electrolytic coloring, hydrothermal sealing, equivalent electrical circuit, simulation.

The use of aluminum oxide as a sensor

The comes about of optical and photoluminescence properties of anodic alumina shaped within the acidic electrolyte and subjected to high-temperature warm treatment are depicted in article. It was found that the photoluminescence properties of anodic alumina decided by the oxygen opportunities with diverse values of the charge states and pollutions within the frame of corrosive buildups. As a premise of limit finders in terms of the mechanical quality the substrates shaped within the oxalic electrolyte and altered by warm treatment at 800 °C are preferred. Variations of plans dilatometric microrelays sensors of temperature based on anodic alumina are advertised. For different ranges of temperatures and working conditions ideal plans are chosen.

Investigation of the features of the porous morphology of anodic alumina films at the initial stage of anodization

The work is devoted to the study of the porous structure formation of anodic alumina films at the initial stage of aluminium anodizing. SEM images of the surface morphology of the oxalic acid anodic films were analyzed. It was shown that at the initial stage, both major and minor pores are formed, the diameter ratio of which is about 1.16 and does not depend on the anodizing voltage. The results obtained indicate that the minor pores in the anodic films are located inside hexagonal cells composed of the major pores.

Real-Time Monitoring of Doxorubicin Release from Hybrid Nanoporous Anodic Alumina Structures

This work demonstrates an advanced approach to fabricate Hybrid nanoporous anodic alumina gradient-index filters (Hy-NAA-GIFs) through a heterogeneous anodization process combining sinusoidal current-density anodization and constant potential anodization. As a result, the hybrid structure obtained reveals a single photonic stopband (PSB), which falls within the absorption region of the drug molecule and the intensity of the spectrum that are far from such absorption range. The prepared structures were loaded with the doxorubicin (DOX) drug through the drop-casting method, which allows for evaluating the maximum reflectance of the relative height of the PSB with the average reflectance of the spectrum intensity. Thereafter, this property has been applied in a flow cell setup connected to a reflectance spectrophotometer where different drug-loaded samples were placed to study the behavior and kinetics of the drug release in real-time by varying two parameters, i.e., different pore length and flow rates. As such, obtained results were analyzed with a model that includes a sum of two inverted exponential decay functions with two different characteristic time releases. Overall, this study opens up several possibilities for the Hy-NAA-GIFs to study the drug kinetics from nanoporous structures.

Study of electric parameters of thin porous anodic alumina layers

Currently, the study of the electric parameters of porous anodic alumina (PAA) layers is of interest for sensor applications (humidity, DNA, etc.). PAA layers are synthesized using electrochemical anodizing of aluminum foil in potentiostatic mode with an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid and glycerin as an electrolyte. The surface morphology of the layers was studied by atomic force microscopy. The electric characteristics were studied using impedance spectroscopy at room temperature and under heating. An increase in the impedance of the heat-treated PAA sample was found, as well as an increase in the impedance with an increase in the measurement temperature. The results are explained by the influence of adsorbed water molecules on the electric characteristics of porous layers.