Highly ordered diamond and hybrid triangle-diamond patterns in porous anodic alumina thin films

Utilizing nonequilibrium formation kinetics in porous anodic alumina (PAA) thin films, diamond and hybrid triangle-diamond pore patterns are achieved. During anodization, the self-compensation abilities of PAA allow diamond-shaped pores to form by omitting certain sites in the surface prepatterning process. The effects of tessellation on cell formation in these arrangements yield elongated, regular, and partially compressed hexagonal cell structures leading to diamond, circular, and triangular pores, respectively. The diamond-shaped porous templates provide a low-cost option for the preparation of scalable nanostructures with diamond-shaped cross sections with utility in a range of nanoscale applications, including enhanced sensing and field emission. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.

Duke Scholars

Author Aaron D. Franklin Electrical and Computer Engineering