Controllable Fabrication and Electrical Performance of Single Crystalline CU2O Nanowires with High Aspect Ratios

We report a facile, solution-phase route to large-scale fabrication and characterization of single crystalline Cu2O nanowires with controllable diameter, different morphologies, and high aspect ratios. The synthesis of Cu2O nanowires is achieved by the reduction of cupric acetate with o-anisidine, pyrrole, or 2,5-dimethoxyaniline under hydrothermal conditions. The electrical properties of individual Cu2O nanowires have been examined by I−V characteristics. The output properties of Cu2O/poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline) core/shell nanowires show n-type characteristics and improved conductivity, while those of Cu2O nanowires are linear. The results from this study provide a low-cost, naturally abundant nanostructured material for use in electronic devices.