Formation of CuO nanowires on Cu foil

We report the growth of CuO nanowires from copper foils oxidized in wet air at temperatures between 300 and 800 degreesC. Within the temperature range of 400-700 degreesC, the nanowires formed have two different morphologies, curved and straight, with diameters between 50 and 400 nm and lengths between 1 and 15 mum. The growth behavior can be understood in terms of kinetics involving short-circuit diffusion, the strength of the nanowires, and the thickness ratio of the oxide scale and the metal. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.