"JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY" . "Nanostructured niobium oxide (NO) semiconductors are gaining increasing attention as electronic, optical, and electro-optic materials. However, the preparation of stable NO nanofilms with reproducible morphology and behavior remains a challenge. Here we show a rapid, well-controlled, and efficient way to synthesize NO films with self-organized columnlike nanostructured morphologies and advanced functional properties. The films are developed via the growth of a nanoporous anodic alumina layer, followed by the pore-directed anodization of the Nb underlayer. The columns may grow 30\u2013150 nm wide, up to 900 nm long, with an aspect ratio of up to 20, being anchored to a thin continuous oxide layer that separates the columns from the substrate. The as-anodized films have a graded chemical composition changing from amorphous Nb2O5 mixed with Al2O3, Si-, and P-containing species in the surface region to NbO2 in the lower film layer. The post-anodization treatments result in the controlled formation of Nb2O5,"@en . . . "7"^^ . "GB - Spojen\u00E9 kr\u00E1lovstv\u00ED Velk\u00E9 Brit\u00E1nie a Severn\u00EDho Irska" . . "RIV/00216305:26620/14:PU111442!RIV15-GA0-26620___" . "Llobet, Eduard" . "niobium oxide, anodization, semiconductor, analytical investigation, dielectric properties, gas sensors"@en . "Gispert-Guirado, Francesc" . "RIV/00216305:26620/14:PU111442" . . . "Bittencourt, Ca." . . "14"^^ . "-" . . "17280" . "[5BFC14BD5EAF]" . . "Vazquez, Rosa Maria" . "Habazaki, Hiroki" . "Formation structure properties of niobium oxide nanocolumn arrays via self organized anodization of sputter deposited aluminum on niobium layers" . . . "Formation structure properties of niobium oxide nanocolumn arrays via self organized anodization of sputter deposited aluminum on niobium layers"@en . "Mozalev, Alexander" . "26620" . "Cossement, Damien" . . . . "P(GA14-29531S)" . "Formation structure properties of niobium oxide nanocolumn arrays via self organized anodization of sputter deposited aluminum on niobium layers" . "Mozalev, Alexander" . . "1"^^ . . "0959-9428" . . "Formation structure properties of niobium oxide nanocolumn arrays via self organized anodization of sputter deposited aluminum on niobium layers"@en . "000337096300017" . . "10.1039/c4tc00349g" . "Nanostructured niobium oxide (NO) semiconductors are gaining increasing attention as electronic, optical, and electro-optic materials. However, the preparation of stable NO nanofilms with reproducible morphology and behavior remains a challenge. Here we show a rapid, well-controlled, and efficient way to synthesize NO films with self-organized columnlike nanostructured morphologies and advanced functional properties. The films are developed via the growth of a nanoporous anodic alumina layer, followed by the pore-directed anodization of the Nb underlayer. The columns may grow 30\u2013150 nm wide, up to 900 nm long, with an aspect ratio of up to 20, being anchored to a thin continuous oxide layer that separates the columns from the substrate. The as-anodized films have a graded chemical composition changing from amorphous Nb2O5 mixed with Al2O3, Si-, and P-containing species in the surface region to NbO2 in the lower film layer. The post-anodization treatments result in the controlled formation of Nb2O5," . "2" .