| Rapid Fabrication of Alumina Nanowires by an Ultrahigh Voltage Two Step Anodization Technique |
| Paper ID : 1031-UFGNSM-FULL |
| Authors: |
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Sedigheh Barzegar *1, Ghodratollah Abalan2, Mahmoud Moradi3, Saeed Behaein3 1shiraz uni, college of chemistry 2shiraz uni, college of sciences, department of chemistry 3shiraz uni., college of sciences, department of physics |
| Abstract: |
| Alumina nanowires (ANWs) have become an exciting field of study because their large surface area and highly electropositive surface make them to be an ideal candidate for water purification filter technology. They rapidly absorb dissolved heavy metals including mercury, gold, silver, cadmium, lead, and uranium. Their highly electropositive surface attracts and retains the pathogens and viruses present in water, which are principally electronegative as a result of the difference in electrical potential between the water and the particle phase. In the present study, ANWs were fabricated by a simple electrochemical method which is called two step anodization in a short time. Anodization was carried out while a mixture of oxalic acid (0.3M) and phosphoric acid (0.35M) was utilized as the electrolyte. Generally, by increasing voltage from the mild anodization step to the hard anodization step, the current density shows a peak shape profile so that its maximum value is directly related to the concentration of the electrolyte and the temperature. The enhancement of the current density is due to the formation of wider pores which result in etching of the pore walls and finally formation of the ANWs. In brief, the presence of this naturally formed ANW bundle indicates that it is created in the natural course of etching through the electrochemical process and as the electrolyte penetrates in the direction from top to bottom reacts with the alumina, therefore the upper parts transform into ANWs. At the same time, these ANWs lose their support from the neighboring thin walls and lean against other ANWs formed nearby. Consequently, an ultrahigh voltage two step anodization method could be used to fabricate natural ANW bundles in a short time. |
| Keywords: |
| Alumina nanowires, two step anodization, water purification |
| Status : Paper Accepted (Poster Presentation) |
