Abstract
A wide variety of anodic oxide films were investigated from the photoluminescent point of view. It was found that the phenomenon of photoluminescence appears only on the films anodically formed in organic acids instead of inorganic acids. In particular, thick oxalic acid films formed in low electrolyte concentration, with high current densities on high purity aluminium, gave intense photoluminescence. The luminescent centres were presumed to be the carboxylate ions which had been incorporated in the films during anodisation.