Method of manufacturing nanostructures

Abstract

A method of manufacturing structures includes a stripping step in which an aluminum member that includes an aluminum substrate and an anodized layer present on a surface of the aluminum substrate and that serves as a cathode is electrolyzed to strip the anodized layer from the aluminum substrate to obtain a structure composed of the anodized layer. Electrolysis in the stripping step is carried out in such a way that a current passes over a surface of the anodized layer. Structures having a well-ordered array of pits can be obtained in a short time without the use of substances such as chromic acid that are deleterious to the environment.

1 . A method of manufacturing a structure comprising: 
 a stripping step in which an aluminum member that includes an aluminum substrate and an anodized layer present on a surface of the aluminum substrate and that serves as a cathode is electrolyzed to strip the anodized layer from the aluminum substrate to thereby obtain a structure composed of the anodized layer,    wherein electrolysis in the stripping step is carried out in such a way that a current passes over a surface of the anodized layer.    
   
   
       2 . The method of manufacturing the structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrolysis in the stripping step is carried out in such a way that the current passes only over the surface of the anodized layer.  
   
   
       3 . The method of manufacturing the structure according to  claim 2 , wherein the electrolysis in the stripping step is carried out in a state where an electrolytic solution is in contact with the surface of the anodized layer but is in contact with neither the aluminum substrate nor edges of the anodized layer.  
   
   
       4 . The method of manufacturing the structure according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the electrolysis in the stripping step reaches completion when the current falls to a value of 0.1 A/dm 2  or below.  
   
   
       5 . A structure obtained by the method according to any one of  claims 1  to  4 .  
   
   
       6 . A method of manufacturing a structure comprising: 
 a stripping step in which an aluminum member that includes an aluminum substrate and an anodized layer present on a surface of the aluminum substrate and that serves as a cathode is electrolyzed to strip the anodized layer from the aluminum substrate to thereby obtain a structure composed of the aluminum substrate having pits formed therein; and    an anodizing step in which the aluminum substrate having the pits formed therein are anodized to obtain the structure composed of the aluminum substrate having on a surface thereof a micropore-bearing anodized layer,    wherein electrolysis in the stripping step is carried out in such a way that a current passes over a surface of the anodized layer.    
   
   
       7 . The method of manufacturing the structure according to  claim 6 , wherein the electrolysis in the stripping step is carried out in such a way that the current passes only over the surface of the anodized layer.  
   
   
       8 . The method of manufacturing the structure according to  claim 7 , wherein the electrolysis in the stripping step is carried out in a state where an electrolytic solution is in contact with the surface of the anodized layer but is in contact with neither the aluminum substrate nor edges of the anodized layer.  
   
   
       9 . The method of manufacturing the structure according to any one of  claims 6  to  8 , wherein the electrolysis in the stripping step reaches completion when the current falls to a value of 0.1 A/dm 2  or below.  
   
   
       10 . The method of manufacturing the structure according to any one of  claim 6  to  9 , further comprising a chemical dissolution treatment step which follows the anodizing step and in which the structure composed of the aluminum substrate having on the surface thereof the micropore-bearing anodized layer is subjected to a chemical dissolution treatment.  
   
   
       11 . A structure obtained by the method according to any one of  claims 6  to  10 .