Synthesis of ceramic nanotubes using AAO templates

In this paper, the metal aluminum oxide ceramic nanotubes (M–Al–O, M = Zn, Mg and Ba) were synthesized by the use of porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template. Metal oxide nanotubes were firstly formed from the thermal decomposition of respective nitrates within the pores of AAO templates. Then M–Al–O nanotubes were synthesized through the solid-state chemical reaction between the metal oxide nanotubes and AAO. TEM observation shows that the as-prepared samples are nanotubes and XRD measurement reveals that M–Al–O nanotubes (M = Zn, Mg and Ba) are crystalline in nature with spinel structure.