Preparation of single-pass AAO template and optimization of experimental parameters.

Single-pass anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) templates were fabricated by a two-step anodization method on high-purity aluminum (Al) plate, which had an amorphous and highly ordered structure composed of hexagon cross-sectional nanotubes. The factors influencing the nanotube size and orderliness of the AAO template were studied and analyzed. The results showed that pretreatments on Al plates made good difference for the obtained nanotubes. It is interesting that compared to one-step anodization, using two-step anodization could get AAO templates with a better ordered and more uniform nanotube array, for which the average pore diameter kept a linear relation to the acidic treatment time in 75 min with a corrosion rate of 0.601 nm/min, and the same to the length of nanotubes reaped in 120 min, together with a nanotube growth rate of 0.28 µm/min. Also, the optimal concentration of electrolyte was determined as 0.3 mol/L. The results confirmed that a single-pass AAO template were successfully prepared, which makes the fabrication of polymer membrane with asymmetric and fibre-island structure to guide bone tissue regeneration possible in the following study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]