Zinc aluminate nanotubes fabrication based on heating-induced volatilization and Kirkendall effect in nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide template

Abstract

The fabrication of zinc aluminate nanotubes attracted considerable attention due to their potential application as catalysts, catalyst supports, and electronics. In this paper, it is presented the influence of heating temperature and time on the Kirkendall effect-related evolution of Zn nanowires embedded in nanopores of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template. With increasing of the reaction temperature and heating time, zinc aluminate nanotubes can be gradually achieved from Zn nanowires embedded in AAO template under the air environment. In particular, ZnO was formed in the pores of AAO template by the volatilization and oxidation of Zn nanowires. And then through the solid-solid interfacial reaction of ZnO and AAO template, the nanostructures were transformed to zinc aluminate nanotubes conserving the shape of the corresponding ZnO nanostructures, which was induced by the nanoscale Kirkendall effect. Combined with the volatilization and oxidation time of Zn nanowires, the wall thickness of the formed nanotubes can be further precisely controlled. Our finding provides a simple and efficient pathway to fabricate the complex hollow zinc aluminate nanostructures, which are expected to have potential applications in catalytic related fields.