The Fabrication Of One-dimensional Nanostructure Based On The AAO Template

A review on recent progressions in the area of the construction of one-dimensional nanostructures with porous anodic alumina oxide (AAO) template has been presented, which includes an detailed analysis for the structure and its formation mechanisms of AAO templates, a brief summary of the routes of nanostructures fabrication through the channels of AAO templates, a classification of the nanostructures grown in the membrane channels, and the applications of these nanostructures in functional opto-electronic devices. Thereafter, a research scheme was proposed to prepare novel organic/inorganic nanostructures by using AAO template.The experimental work began with the systematic investigation on the state-of-art of the fabrication of AAO templates. A new set-up to fabricate one-side porous AAO templates with Al substrates was built up and the scheme was patented. Using this self-designed setup, both one-side and punctured porous AAO templates were obtained efficiently, and the morphological characteristics of these templates were detected with SEM and AFM techniques.Hydrotalcite-like compounds were grown on the surface of porous AAO templates. Based on the X-ray diffraction pattern and elementary analysis data, they were assigned to be Zn₆Al₁₂(OH)₁₆CO₃·nH₂O, a typical Zn-Al-layered double hydroxides (Zn-Al-LDH). The porous AAO membrane surface offered a unique template to grow the Zn-Al-LDH within an hour, much faster than those grown on alumina or aluminum plates (hours). The water contact angle (CA) for the as-prepared Zn-Al-LDH surface was measured to be 122°, indicating a hydrophobic surface; while after calcinations, the water CA was turned to be 65°, indicating a hydrophilic surface. Components variation and surface reconstruction were associated with the mechanisms for the interpretation of the change of surface wettability.A vacuum filling technique was adapted to fabricate polymer nanotubes in three different procedures. One: monomer, initiator and solvent were simultaneously introduced into the channels of AAO templates, and the polymer (e.g. PMMA) nanotubes were grown by in situ polymerization. Two: filling in vacu the polymer precursor solution into the alumina nanopores, and polymer (e.g. hyperbranched poly(dicarbonyl-acetylenes)) nanotubes were obtained by an in situ post- polymerization. Three: direct filling the solution of high polymer into the alumina nanopores, expected nanotubes were derived after the evaporation of the solvent.Upon the vacuum filling technique in procedure 1, polymer composite nanotubes of tetraphenylethylene (TPE) /PMMA were fabricated and the aggregation induced emission property of the TPE was observed for these nanotubes. By taking the procedure 3, the mixtures of polycarbonate (PC) matrix and hexaphenylsilole (HPS) and carbazole-modified diphenyl-bridged tri(phenylenevinylene) (DKZ) were filled into the AAO channels, and the hybrid nanotubes of HPS/PC and DKZ/PC were generated. The HPS dispersed in PC matrix displayed the emission similar to that in amorphous solid; while DKZ mixed in PC nanotubes exhibited a narrowed emission peak with decreased vibronic coupling modes. These results have significances to the development of nano-materials and devices based on AIE and two photon absorption molecules.