NANOSTRUCTURES BASED ON POROUS NIOBIUM AND NIOBIA

Magnetron deposited Al-Nb nanocomposite films were selectively etched for fabrication of nanoporous niobium. Atomic force and scanning electron microscopy investigations have shown that the fabricated nanostructures include interconnected nanowires of 20-50 nm in diameter and 100-150 nm plates. Annealing at 450 °C in air transformed porous niobium into the porous niobia, which can be as thick as 3 μm.