Vertically aligned CuO nanometre scale wires synthesized by thermal oxidation in atmospheric air

In this study vertically aligned copper oxide (CuO) nanometre scale wires were synthesized via two thermal oxidation techniques. The first involved the direct heating of an oxygen free copper substrate on a commercial hotplate at 300 ºC, while second technique involved heat treating a similar copper substrate in a tube furnace over the temperature range from 400 ºC to 600 ºC. Both heat treatments were carried out in atmospheric air without the use of any catalysts. The as-grown CuO wires formed using this facile thermal oxidation were found to have high aspect ratios, mechanically stable and firmly attached to the underlining oxide layer. The size, shape, morphology and composition of the wires were investigated using advanced characterisation techniques such as transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction