Nanoporous anodic aluminium oxide (AAO) is a well-known template in different fields of nanotechnology, due to its potential applications in a widespread industrial sector. Therefore, electrochemical performance of different fabricated MO films was thoroughly investigated in both molar sulfuric acid and aqueous sulfate solutions relative to the behavior of their bare aluminium substrate. The prepared samples included one-step anodized film (1st), first anodized electrolytic polished film (EP), self-organized two-step anodized film (2nd) and electrode posited copper atoms in the pores of the 2nd anodized film (colored). Surface characterization and electrochemical results revealed that properties and stability of the four fabricated samples are strictly influenced by the method adopted in their preparation. In both tested media, electrolytic polished sample (EP) offered the highest stability and corrosion protection for its Al substrate. Generally, the performance decreased in the following order: EP > 1st > 2nd > colored > bare Al. Interestingly, for each tested sample our data revealed a better behavior in H2SO4 than in Na2SO4 solution, since alumina film is more predisposed to dissolution in solution with higher pH values. (c) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.