Template-assisted electrochemical synthesis of cuprous oxide nanowires

Nanowires of Cu2O as well as Cu were synthesized within the anodic aluminum oxide templates in an aqueous acidic electrochemical cell. The content of Cu2O in the copper nanowires was controlled by varying the anodic potential of the pulse-reverse electrolysis and the pH of the electrolyte within a range of 2.0-3.9. For the pH of 2.0, pure Cu nanowires were deposited regardless of the anodic potential. When the anodic potential became higher than the cathodic one, pure Cu2O nanowires were produced at a pH of 3.9. The growth of Cu2O nanowires in the acidic electrolyte was ascribed to the local increase of the pH at the pore base, as well as the capacitive barrier layer of the template. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.