Copper nanowires with a five-twinned structure grown by chemical vapor deposition

Freestanding copper nanowires (CuNWs) grown by CVD are analyzed by electron microscopy to show the details of a fivefold-twinned structure. The electron diffraction pattern discloses irregular mismatching of the twin boundaries. The electron emission characteristics of the CuNWs are presented, along with a CuNW-based proof-of-principle field-emission display (see figure).