Fabrication of Hexagonally Assembled Gold Nonodots Based on Anodization of Aluminum

Porous alumina prepared by anodization has been widely studied since it shows very regular nanostructures at inexpensive prices. In this article, porous alumina is obtained by anodization of aluminum in the oxalic acid. After the first formed oxide is selectively removed from the aluminum substrate, the hexagonal nanostructures on the fresh aluminum are converted to nanodots by the second anodization in boric acid. Nanodots are arrayed in the convex of the hexagonal nanostructures. The optimization condition for the fabrication of nanodots with a height of 20 nm is investigated in detail. Subsequently, a gold film is deposited on the nanodots, resulting in the formation of gold nanodots arrays which are probably interesting substrate for biosensor applications.