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Porous and mesh alumina formed by anodization of high purity aluminum films at low anodizing voltage

Research Authors
Alaa M. Abd-Elnaiem, A.M. Mebed, Waleed Ahmed El-Saidd, M.A. Abdel-Rahim
Research Abstract

Electrochemical oxidation of high-purity aluminum (Al) films under low anodizing voltages (1–10) V has been conducted to obtain anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) with ultra-small pore size and inter-pore distance. Different structures of AAO have been obtained e.g. nanoporous and mesh structures. Highly regular pore arrays with small pore size and inter-pore distance have been formed in oxalic or sulfuric acids at different temperatures (22–50 °C). It is found that the pore diameter, inter-pore distance and the barrier layer thickness are independent of the anodizing parameters, which is very different from the rules of general AAO fabrication. The brand formation mechanism has been revealed by the scanning electron microscope study. Regular nanopores are formed under 10 V at the beginning of the anodization and then serve as a template layer dominating the formation of ultra-small nanopores. Anodization that is performed at voltages less than 5 V leads to mesh structured alumina. In addition, we have introduced a simple one-pot synthesis method to develop thin walls of oxide containing lithium (Li) ions that could be used for battery application based on anodization of Al films in a supersaturated mixture of lithium phosphate and phosphoric acid as matrix for Li-composite electrolyte.

Research Department
Research Journal
Thin Solid Films
Research Member
Research Publisher
Elsevier
Research Rank
1
Research Vol
570
Research Website
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040609014008669
Research Year
2014
Research Pages
49–56