Fine-structured patterns of porous alumina material fabricated by a replication method

Porous alumina materials with three-dimensional fine-patterning over multiple length scales were fabricated from mixed slurry of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and alumina nanosized particles in water by a replication method. The mixed slurry was then filled in a silicon mold with different pattern sizes and dried at room temperature. After the drying, the PVA and alumina dried film were detached from the mold. Through burn-out at various sintering temperatures, alumina porous materials with dot, hole and line and space patterns as small as sub-micrometer in size were successfully fabricated. The results demonstrated possibilities to produce porous inorganic materials with various compositions and structures with a facile approach and a simple method.