Nanomorphological changes of anodic aluminum oxide fabricated by anodizing in various phosphate solutions over a wide pH range

High-purity aluminum plates were anodized in phosphoric acid and six phosphate solutions over a wide pH range from acidic to alkaline. The current density corresponding to the growth rate of the anodic oxide was minimum when anodizing in near-neutral solutions and increased when the pH value increased or decreased. A typical porous anodic aluminum oxide (PAAO) film consisting of an outer porous layer and inner hemispherical barrier layer, which is based on the Keller–Hunter–Robinson (KHR) model, was formed in acidic solutions. At the pH values closer to the neutral region, a uniform barrier oxide film or a PAAO film with a narrow porous layer was produced owing to the low solubility of aluminum oxide. On the other hand, two types of characteristic PAAO films were formed during anodizing in alkaline phosphate solutions: one was a PAAO film consisting of an outer porous layer with feathered pore walls and inner hemispherical barrier layer, and the second was a PAAO film consisting of an outer porous layer with elongated pores and inner flat barrier layer. We showed that novel PAAO films, which are not based on the KHR model, can be prepared by anodizing aluminum in various alkaline phosphate solutions.