Anodic Aluminum Oxide Nanowells

Nanomaterials are promising candidates for the development of advanced chemical detectors because of their appealing physical properties and particular surface chemistry characteristics. Of special interest is the field of hydrogen sensors because H2 represents an enormous potential solution to the current and future energy supply and environmental challenges. The presented picture is an Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) image of an array of highly ordered Anodic Aluminum Oxide (AAO) nanowells used as a substrate for a nano scale film of palladium (Pd). The AAO-Pd system is being investigated as a material for nanostructured hydrogen sensors with superior sensing performance. The diameter of each pore is 70 nm and the pore-to-pore distance is 110 nm. The image was obtained with a Digital Instruments Multimode AFM controlled by a Veeco Nanoscope® IV in the tapping mode.