Flow Instability Mechanism for Formation of Self-Ordered Porous Anodic Oxide Films

Optimization of Nanostructure and Characterization: Anodization of TiO2 in the Polyethylene Glycol-Based Electrolyte

The homogeneity and stability of the structure of anodic TiO2 nanotube (ATNT) arrays have been a hot topic in materials synthesis research. In this work, the current density distribution during the anodization of ATNT arrays was optimized by adding polyethylene glycol-600 (PEG-600) to the conventional ethylene glycol-based electrolyte, which enhanced the dependence of the electronic current on the applied voltage, thus providing a stabilizing effect on anodization and improving the homogeneity of the pores on the surface of ATNT arrays. A new image processing approach, called the region-growing method, is reported in this work, which can quantitatively analyze the pore size of ATNT arrays through SEM images, and the surface morphology of ATNT arrays was evaluated based on this. The most stable anodization was obtained with a 50 wt % PEG-600 addition, and the equivalent diameters of the pores prepared at applied voltages of 40, 50, and 60 V were 34.5340, 42.4010, and 50.4791 nm, respectively, with a linear correlation of 0.9999.

Nature of instability in flow-driven porous anodic oxide

Self-organized porous anodic oxide films are formed by the electrochemical oxidation of reactive metal aluminum in acidic solutions in which the oxide is soluble. Recently, viscous flow models have shown using linear stability analysis that the instability results from a trade-off between the destabilizing effect of viscous flow of oxide and the stabilizing effect of oxide formation, which provides the wavelength selection mechanism for pattern formation. Anion adsorption on surface growth sites causes nonuniform compressive stress at the oxide-solution interface, which drives the flow. This anodic instability is analogous to the classical Marangoni instability induced by surface tension gradients. In this work, nature of the instability beyond the stability threshold is determined using a weakly nonlinear analysis. For the growth of well-developed pores beyond the threshold, a subcritical nature of the instability is essential. However, our weakly nonlinear analysis shows that the solutions emerging from neutral stability are supercritical in nature at all wavenumbers for the practical range of anodizing control parameters investigated. We also determine the region where the model is Hadamard stable, a necessary condition for well-posedness.

Revisiting anodic alumina templates: from fabrication to applications

Anodic porous alumina, -AAO- (also known as nanoporous alumina, nanohole alumina arrays, -NAA- or nanoporous anodized alumina platforms, -NAAP-) has opened new opportunities in a wide range of fields, and is used as an advanced photonic structure for applications in structural coloration and advanced optical biosensing based on the ordered nanoporous structure obtained and as a template to grow nanowires or nanotubes of different materials giving rise to metamaterials with tailored properties. Therefore, understanding the structure of nanoporous anodic alumina templates and knowing how they are fabricated provide a tool for the further design of structures based on them, such as 3D nanoporous structures developed recently. In this work, we review the latest developments related to nanoporous alumina, which is currently a very active field, to provide a solid and thorough reference for all interested experts, both in academia and industry, on these nanostructured and highly useful structures. We present an overview of theories on the formation of pores and self-ordering in alumina, paying special attention to those presented in recent years, and different nanostructures that have been developed recently. Therefore, a wide variety of architectures, ranging from ordered nanoporous structures to diameter changing pores, branched pores, and 3D nanostructures will be discussed. Next, some of the most relevant results using different nanostructured morphologies as templates for the growth of different materials with novel properties and reduced dimensionality in magnetism, thermoelectricity, etc. will be summarised, showing how these structures have influenced the state of the art in a wide variety of fields. Finally, a review on how these anodic aluminium membranes are used as platforms for different applications combined with optical techniques, together with principles behind these applications will be presented, in addition to a hint on the future applications of these versatile nanomaterials. In summary, this review is focused on the most recent developments, without neglecting the basis and older studies that have led the way to these findings. Thus, it gives an updated state-of-the-art review that should be useful not only for experts in the field, but also for non-specialists, helping them to gain a broad understanding of the importance of anodic porous alumina, and most probably, endow them with new ideas for its use in fields of interest or even developing the anodization technique.

Nonlinear evolution of a thin anodic film

The formation of pores in anodic aluminium oxide films is treated with a model equation. The model treats the oxide layer as a thin viscous liquid in two dimensions. Surface tension on the top boundary, electrostriction due to the external electric field and mass flow through the bottom boundary due to oxide formation are all included. Viscous flow is treated with the creeping flow assumption. The model equation is solved numerically using a Fourier spectral method in space and Adams–Bashforth/Adams–Moulton methods in time. Initial conditions include sinusoidal shapes as well as random shapes. The results show that pores form at the trough of the initial sinusoidal shape. Random shapes get smoothed before forming pore structures with spacing different than predicted by linear theory.