Three different examples have shown that nanoporous alumina membranes
serve as ideal templates for the formation of nanostructured materials
and also as a support of those materials in composites. The unique pr
operties of such membranes (transparency, chemical resistivity, therma
l stability, adjustable pore sizes etc.) and the very simple mode of g
enerating these composites are the benefits of using this inorganic te
mplate material.