Preparation and Characterisation of Alumina Template Obtained by OneStep Anodization Method

Abstract

The goal of this study was to obtain an alumina template (AAO) by one-step anodization method and to evaluate its optical properties correlated with the annealing temperature. AAO was obtained from two different media: sulphuric acid (1.5 M H₂SO₄) and oxalic acid (0.4 M H₂C₂O₄) at a potential of 15 V and 40 V, respectively. AAO morphology and chemical composition had been investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The average pore diameters such as 20 nm for AAO obtained from H₂SO₄ and 40 nm from H₂C₂O₄ were measured. The crystalline structures of AAO samples annealed at three different temperatures of 150 ºC, 300 ºC and 350 ºC were studied by Xray diffractometry (XRD). The effect of annealing temperature on the optical properties of AAO was studied by UV-VIS spectrophotometry.