A simple, inexpensive, and robust methodology was developed to fabricate conductive film substrates by mechanically packing nanoparticles (NPs) on one side of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO). Gold, silver NPs, and carbon nanotubes were used as building blocks in the synthesis of conductive film substrates, upon which perpendicular nanorod arrays and colloidal free-standing nanorods were easily constructed. Characterizations by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and optical dark-field microscopy confirmed the validity of the conductive NP film substrates on the AAO template. This contribution could provide a convenient and low-cost means for the fabrication of various conductive substrates on AAO. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc.