Generation of Electron Moiré Fringes on Designed Nanoporous Anodic Alumina Films and Their Replicated Ni Cone Arrays: Exploration of Domain Sizes and Nanopore Arrangements

Here, we demonstrate a new method to measure the domain sizes and the periodicities of the pore arrangements and to find the domain boundaries in the designed PAA film with conical nanopores. Such structural information can be simultaneously obtained by utilizing the electron moiré fringes without direct observation of the nanopores. The electron moiré fringes are generated by overlapping of two patterns on the basis of the principle of the traditional moiré method. The average size of the single domains is estimated to be about 2 μm 2 . Furthermore, the Ni cone arrays are successfully produced by replication method using the PAA film. Very clear electron moiré fringes can be visualized on the surface of the Ni cone arrays. The domain-shape and the average domain-size in the observed moiré fringes are almost similar to those of the PAA film used as the original template. This fact indicates that the Ni cones are successfully replicated under excellent electrochemical conditions.