A unique novel self-assembled nanostructured alumina array with nanoscale grooves can be induced and controlled in nanometer dimension by a general electrochemical oxidation of aluminum in sulfuric acid. Almost inter-perpendicular self-assembled alumina nanostructure arrays separated by a few tens nanometer thick interface sheet were also observed in many domains. And the formation of this nanostructured array is considered as the result of the special competition balance between electrochemical oxidation and etching. Because of similarities of aluminum anodization with semiconductor anodization, our results may be proved useful for Si or GaAs nanostructure synthesis. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.