Designing Heterogeneous 1D Nanostructure Arrays Based on AAO Templates for Energy Applications

In order to fulfill the multiple requirements for energy production, storage, and utilization in the future, the conventional planar configuration of current energy conversion/storage devices has to be reformed, since technological evolution has promoted the efficiency of the corresponding devices to be close to the theoretical values. One promising strategy is to construct multifunctional 1D nanostructure arrays to replace their planar counterparts for device fabrication, ascribing to the significant superiorities of such 1D nanostructure arrays. In the last three decades, technologies based on anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) templates have turned out to be valuable meaning for the realization of 1D nanostructures and have attracted tremendous interest. In this review, recent progress in energy-related devices equipped with heterogeneous 1D nanostructure arrays that fabricated through the assistance of AAO templates is highlighted. Particular emphasis is given on how to develop efficient devices via optimizing the componential and morphological parameters of the 1D nanostructure arrays. Finally, aspects relevant to the further improvement of device performance are discussed.