<p>This paper describes the fabrication of a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template with single-step anodizing and provides for the synthesis of Ni nanorods. The AAO template was prepared by anodizing in 0.3&#xa0;mol dm^-3 of phosphoric acid solution using a new method of 3D-printed solution-flow type microdroplet cell (SF-MDC). The top surface morphology and cross-section of the prepared AAO layers were characterized by a scanning electron microscope. The chemical compositions and valence states of elements after the electrodeposition of Ni in AAO surface were examined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, respectively. The influence of alumina etching time and Ni deposition time on the electrochemical fabrication of Ni nanorods were investigated. The size of electrodeposited Ni nanorod is equivalent to the size of the obtained pores of the AAO template. The uniformity and completeness of filling Ni nanorods into the pores of the AAO surface were attained by controlling the Ni deposition time and current density. The results confirmed that approximately 95% of the AAO pores were successfully filled with Ni nanorods in the localized anodic porous alumina template fabricated using the SF-MDC technique.</p>