(Invited) The Effects of Laser Ablation Texturing and Nanoparticles on Anodic Nanotube and Porous Film Formation

Al, Cu, Ni, Sn, Ti and Zn have been textured by the application of laser ablation. Laser ablation creates structures such as pits, pillars as well as crystalline nanoparticles and aggregations of these nanoparticles. Subsequently these textured substrates are subjected to high-voltage anodization. TiO2 nanotube formation is quite facile conforming to the initial substrate topology, some time also forming nanotube pills. Increased reaction rates induced by ablation induced surface area increase, nanoparticle deposition and lattice defects can aid the growth of new phases, which are dependent on the solution chemistry, e.g. Al2O3 vs (NH4)2AlF4 in switching from an aqueous to an ethylene glycol-based electrolyte. A porous F-doped ZnO film was produced by anodization of an ablated Zn substrate. The structures of films formed in this manner differ from those produced by conventional anodization.