Abstract: Ni-P nanowire arrays and nanotube arrays were fabricated by electroless deposition using porous aluminum oxide membrane as templates in acidic coating bath at room temperature. The images of Ni-P nanowires and nanotubes are obtained by transmission electron microscope (TEM), respectively. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) are employed to study the morphology and chemical composition of the nanowires and nanotubes. The influence of pretreatment of alumina template on the growth of nano-arrays is studied by comparing the growing ways between nanowires and nanotubes. The results indicate that both Ni-P nanowires and nanotubes are amorphous nickel phosphor alloy. The growth of nanowires and nanotubes mainly depends on sensitization and activation process at room temperature. Using sensitization and activation together as pretreatment will cause the formation of nanowires. Using activation only as pretreatment will cause the formation of nanotubes. The thickness of nanotubes wouldn′t rise with time when it reached a certain degree.

Key words: Nanowire arrays, Nanotube arrays, Electroless deposition, Porous alumina template