Pattern Formation in Anodic Aluminum Oxide Growth by Flow Instability and Dynamic Re-Stabilization

Abstract

The viscous flow of oxide driven by the electrostriction force during growth of anodic aluminum oxide is treated by linear stability analysis and scale analysis. It is shown that a uniform oxide film is unstable to a periodic deformation. The re-stabilization of pore growth is examined by scale analysis of the steady pore diameter. The pattern spatial period and pore radius predicted by the analysis is compared with experimental observations reported in the literature.