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Novel Pre-oxidation Patterning on Thin Aluminium Film Generating Ordered Nanopores through Anodization

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Giovanni Fois
Affiliation:
[email protected], Trinity College Dublin, CRANN, Dublin, Ireland
Ciara Therese Bolger
Affiliation:
[email protected], University College Cork, Department of chemistry, Cork, Ireland
Justin D Holmes
Affiliation:
[email protected], University College Cork, Department of chemistry, Cork, Ireland
Graham Cross
Affiliation:
[email protected], Trinity College Dublin, School of Physics and CRANN, Dublin, Ireland
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Abstract

Anodic Aluminum Oxide (AAO) is widely employed as a template for fabrication of nanowires and nanotubes due to its ability to generate self organized (SO), well ordered pore structures. We have developed a new aluminum pre-patterning technique to create well ordered nanopore arrays on thin films deposited on silicon substrates. We form patterns of thicker oxide on the surface via local oxidation process using a conducting Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) tip working in contact mode. Pores are forced to nucleate between the pre-oxidized regions during the anodization process. The relation between applied voltage and ordered interpore distance has been found to be linear for these supported thin films. However, the pore spacing is highly reduced compared to free standing foils. A new empiric law has been confirmed for a wide range of voltages, solution concentrations and different electrolytes, including oxalic and phosphoric acid. Our results show that pre-oxidation patterning is an alternative technique to achieve an ordered nanoporous template through the anodization process.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2010

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