Synthesis and Characterization of Cu2O Nanowires by a Novel Reduction Route

A simple synthesis of high-quality Cu2O, a material of high interest in optics because of its photon exciton interconversion properties, in the form of nanowires (see Figure for a TEM image) is reported by the authors. Reduction of Cu(OH)2, freshly prepared from CuCl2, with hydrazine hydrate in basic solution in the presence of the surfactant polyethylene glycol (PEG) yields Cu2O nanowires 5–8 nm in diameter and 10–20 nm long.