Confined assembly of TiO2 nanostructures in the nanochannels of AAO membrane

Abstract

Nanochannels were attractive nanostructures due to their special small sizes and biomimetic functions. Here we reported a novel hybrid nanochannel, which combined with TiO2 nanostructures and anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membrane. We used a facile solution-dipping method to make TiO2 nanostructures assemble in the nanochannnels of AAO membrane. The morphologies of nanochannels were monitored by field emission scanning electron microscopy and the micro-regional compositions were characterized by energy dispersive spectrometer. Optical information of the nanochannels were recorded by ultraviolet–Visible spectrophotometer, and the ionic current through nanochannels was recorded by an electrochemical workstation. From the results, the TiO2 nanostructures were well-anchored on the walls of nanochannels and the size of nanostructures was uniform. The optical properties and ionic current of hybrid nanochannels would change when the conditions of dipping method changed. For this, this nanochannel had huge potential in the field of photovoltaic conversion, ionic rectifier and biosensor.