A laminated micropolarizer of Pb nanowire arrays was fabricated within an anodic alumina membrane (AAM) by anodization of the pure Al foil and subsequent electrodeposition of Pb. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, selected-area electron diffraction, and high-resolution electron microscopy investigations reveal that the ordered Pb nanowires are essentially single crystal, and have an average diameter of 40 nm. Spectrophotometry measurements show that the Pb nanowire arrays embedded in AAM can only transmit polarized light vertical to the wires. An extinction ratio of 17 to 18 dB and an average insertion loss of 0.4 dB cm(-1) in the wavelength range of 1 to 2.2 mum were obtained, respectively. Therefore, these Pb nanowire/AAM composites can be used as a wire grid type micropolarizer.