Synthesis of zinc oxide nanotubes within ultrathin anodic aluminum oxide membrane by sol-gel method

In this paper we report a simple method that enables the easy fabrication of ultrathin porous anodic aluminum oxide (MO) membranes from two-step anodization in oxalic acid solution. ZnO nanotubes have been synthesized by injecting sol-gel into the pores of the ultrathin AAO membrane. The structures and morphologies of the ultrathin MO membrane and ZnO nanotubes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscope. The thickness of the as-prepared AAO membranes is about 1 ism with highly ordered pores inside, and the ZnO nanotubes are straight with uniform thickness along the length and with diameter equal to those of nanopores. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.