TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The working electrode is a titanium foil having a thickness sufficient to provide synthesis of self-aligned closely packed nanotube arrays of in excess of 10 mu m (preferably 0.25-2 mm) in length. The electrolyte is a fluoride containing organic electrolyte of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) containing hydrofluoric acid, potassium fluoride, or ammonium fluoride. The counter electrode comprises a platinum foil. The formed oxide comprises a titanium oxide. Preferred Composition: The electrolyte is an ethylene glycol containing ammonium fluoride (NH4F) (0.3 wt.%), and water (H2O) (2 wt.%). Preferred Method: The method includes optimizing the electrolytic composition of the fluoride containing organic electrolyte and duration of oxidation to provide complete anodization of the working electrode and control of the length of the nanotube array; and assisting in increasing length of the nanotube array by anodizing the working electrode of in the electrolyte having ammonium fluoride (0.5 wt.%) and H2O (3 wt.%) in ethylene glycol. It may involve anodizing the working electrode in an electrolyte to provide a formed oxide; dissolving the formed oxide to form the nanotube array; maintaining dynamic equilibrium between growth and dissolution processes by controlling anodization variable(s) including an anodization voltage, an anodization time, wt.% of H2O in the solution of ethylene glycol, and wt.% of NH4F; and growing the nanotube array to a total length to form to the nanotube array by sustained oxidation of the working electrode. It includes obtaining the total length of 1000 mu m for the nanotube array using titanium foil of sufficient thickness and anodizing the titanium foil in the electrolyte at sufficient anodization voltage (preferably 60 V) and time (preferably 216 hours). It may involve anodizing the titanium foil in an electrolyte solution to form a titanium dioxide; dissolving the titanium dioxide to form the nanotube array exhibiting close-packing and high aspect ratios; growing the nanotube array to an optimal length given the working electrode thickness by sustained oxidation of the titanium foil and pore growth; and maintaining dynamic equilibrium between growth and dissolution processes by controlling anodization voltage, anodization time, and NH4F and H2O in the solution of ethylene glycol.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The electrolyte is ethylene glycol or a polar organic electrolyte consisting of formamide (FA), DMSO, a dimethylformamide (DMF) or N-methylformamide (NMF) for providing fluoride ions. It is an aqueous solution, an amide based electrolyte, or a non-aqueous electrolyte. It is a polar organic electrolyte of hydrofluoric acid (HF), potassium fluoride (KF), and NH4F. It comprises a solution of ethylene glycol that assists in minimizing lateral etching of the nanotubes.