Nanostructures Based on Porous Aluminum Oxide Templates: Fabrication, Properties and Applications

Using the template method to fabricate nanostructures is an entirely new approach for fabricating nanostructures based on self-organization that developed since the middle 1990s, which means that nanostructures can be made directly in the openings of the template under an environment of liquid or vapor. In this case the size and shape of the nano-objects are determined by the size and shape of the openings in the nanotemplates,and may vary over a wide range depending on the template used. This flexibility also extends to the range of materials deposited in the template's openings. This approach is particularly attractive since it circumvents the lithographic limitations altogether by making use of naturally occurring nanotemplates.