Abstract: Alumina membranes with ordered pore arrays were prepared via anodization in an oxalic or sulfuric acid.
Photoluminescence behavior of porous alumina membranes was studied by annealing the membranes in air or in vacuum of about 1×10^-3Pa
at different temperatures. The results show that the intensity of the photoluminescence (PL) band increases with the annealing temperature and
the PL band exhibits a blue shift at the same time. The intensity of the PL band reaches its maximum for anodic alumina membranes prepared in oxalic
acid when the annealing temperature T_a=500℃. While for membranes prepared in sulfuric acid, the maximum PL intensity appears at
T_a=400℃. When T_a≤400℃, the PL intensities are almost independent of the annealing atmosphere; while the PL intensity of the membrane prepared in the oxalic acid after annealed in
air is higher than that annealed in vacuum when T_a=500℃. The intensity of the PL band is much higher for alumina membranes prepared
in oxalic acid than that prepared in sulfuric acid. Electron spin resonance results verify that the blue PL band comes from the F⁺ centers in porous
alumina membranes. Mechanisms of the photoluminescence characterization of porous alumina membranes were discussed.

Key words: anodization, alumina membranes, photoluminescence