Organic nanowire-templated fabrication of alumina nanotubes by atomic layer deposition

Abstract

Alumina nanotubes were fabricated by a template method. Tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) gallium (GaQ3) organic nanowires were used as a soft template for coating with alumina using an atomic layer deposition technique. The deposition was conducted at 25°C by using trimethylaluminum and distilled water as the precursors of Al2O3. Amorphous alumina nanotubes were obtained after removing the GaQ3 by dissolving in toluene or by heat treatment at 350°C. The amorphous nanotubes could be crystallized by heating at 900°C for 1 h in vacuum. © 2007 American Chemical Society.