Peculiarities of Aluminum Anodization in AHAs-Based Electrolytes: Case Study of the Anodization in Glycolic Acid Solution

The anodization of aluminum (Al) in three alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs): glycolic (GC), malic (MC), and citric (CC), was analyzed. Highly ordered pores in GC were obtained for the first time. However, the hexagonal cells were characterized by a non-uniform size distribution. Although common features of current density behavior are visible, the anodization in AHAs demonstrates some peculiarities. The electric conductivity (σ) of 0.5 M GC, MC, and CC electrolytes was in the following order: σ(CC) > σ(MC) > σ(GC), in accordance with the acid strength pKa(CC) < pKa(MC) < pKa(GC). However, the anodization voltage, under which a self-organized pore formation in anodic alumina (AAO) was observed (Umax), decreased with increasing pKa: Umax(CC) > Umax(MC) ≥ Umax(GC). This unusual behavior is most probably linked with the facility of acid ions to complex Al and the active participation of the Al complexes in the AAO formation. Depending on the AHA, its tendency and different modes to coordinate Al ions, the contribution of stable Al complexes to the AAO growth is different. It can be concluded that the structure of Al complexes, their molecular mass, and the ability to lose electrons play more important roles in the AAO formation than pKa values of AHAs.