Anodic alumina template on Au/Si substrate and preparation of CdS nanowires

A layer of thin gold film was sandwiched between a silicon substrate and an Al film to form the Al/Au/Si structure. Subsequent anodization leads to formation of a Si-based anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template (AAO/Au/Si structure) with ordered nanopores. This kind of template has unique electrodeposition properties and can bond well with the deposited materials. The anodic process of the Al/Au/Si structure was investigated in detail by in situ monitoring the current–time curve. As an application, CdS nanowires were fabricated on the silicon substrate using this kind of AAO templates. Light-emitting property from the CdS nanowires was observed. This kind of Si-based light-emitting nanowires are expected to have practical applications in optoelectronic integration.