Well-defined nanoarchitectured metal film electrodes (NMFEs) with high electroactive surface areas relative to corresponding metal macroelectrode have been fabricated by direct evaporating metal onto porous anodic aluminum oxide films in a two-step route. The so-prepared metal electrodes have high dense hollow nanostructure arrays upstanding on their surfaces and thin thickness within several hundred nanometers, which endow them with enhanced electroactive surface areas relative to disk-shaped electrodes of macroscopic dimensions and the feature of reduction of cost. Because of the rich nano-surface, these NMFEs will find use in a number of applications that involve sensing, analysis, and catalysis. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.