Re: How to "Cap" Aluminia Membranes?

Michael DeShazer wrote:
> 
> I am involved in nanobattery research and I am trying to find a way to
> cover the pores of an anodic aluminia membrane with a conductive
> surface. The problem is that these pores are only 60-70 nanometers
> wide. Any one who knows anything about nanobatteries will understand
> my problem. Currently the way that I am charging and discharging nano
> batteries is to sputter graphite particle on to the electroyte filed
> pores. However the sputtered particles are almost always a micron
> wide. I need to either find a wasy to sputter smaller particles or
> find a btter way to make idividual conductive particles over an
> ordered anodic aluminia membrane.
> 
> If you have any ideas or know if this has been done before please
> email me any information.

Scientific wild ass guess time!

   1) Do it by transfer.  Lay down your conductive plane on a release
layer or directly upon a thinned silicon membrane.  Bond to your
alumina.  Pull off from the release layer or dissolve the few microns
of silcon in caustic.  Transfer works for microcircuitry.

   2) Dope only the top edges or surface of the alumina grid with
trace Pd(II) or Sn(II).  Then electrolessly plate nickel, copper,
silver...  

   3) Lay down a web of metallic single wall carbon nanotubes.

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