Fabrication of ordered anodic aluminum oxide using a solvent-induced array of block-copolymer micelles

Abstract

A unique approach for the preparation of pretextured surface patterns on aluminum using the thin film of poly (styrene-b-4-vinylpyridine) (PS-b-P4VP) diblock copolymer was demonstrated. The pores initiated and guided the growth of the channels during anodization, while the arrays of cylindrical microdomains, which were used for fabrication of aluminum, were produced by annealing block copolymer. The scanning force microscopy (SFM) images of alumina after anodization showed that the volume expansion during the process resulted in the formation of dimpled structures on the aluminum surface. Results showed subsequent anodization in concentrated sulfuric acid that enabled the formation of channels with long range lateral order and the pore periodicity, and center to center distances between pores is controlled by changing the molecular weight of the block polymers. Optimization of self organized growth conditions at low voltage also resulted in scaling down the pore intervals.