Spontaneous growth of CuO nanowires through direct thermal oxidation of Cu sheets

Abstract

Copper oxide nanowires were grown on commercial copper sheets through direct thermal oxidation using a rudimentary setup. A hotplate was used as the heating source. The nanowires grew to optimal length at an oxidation temperature of 450˚C. The nanowires grown at 450˚C had thicknesses ranging from 0.05 to 0.20 nm and lengths up to 5 µm. Aside from cleaning of the samples no chemical or physical treatment was involved.