Utilizing Cell Culture Assisted Anodization to Fabricate Aluminium Oxide with a Gradient Microstep and Nanopore Structure

[Image: see text] Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) with a gradient microstep and nanopore structure (GMNP) is fabricated by inversely using cell culture to control the reaction areas in the electrochemical anodization, which shows a larger porosity than that of typical planar AAO. The figure of the microstep is influenced by the cell dehydration temperature which controls the cell shrinkage degree. A GMNP AAO with a diameter of 2.5 cm is achieved. Polymer with a gradient microstep and nanonipple structure is fabricated using the GMNP AAO as the template, which denotes that GMNP AAO could become a broad platform for the structural preparation of various materials with advanced functions.