PAM-assisted synthesis of single-crystalline CuI nanorods

Single-crystalline cuprous iodide semiconductor nanorods were fabricated via a facile and efficient room-temperature solution process by using polyacrylamide (PAM) as a structure-directing agent, followed by heat treatment at 180 °C. The diameter and length of the nanorods were estimated to be ca. 50 nm and ca. 1 μm, respectively. And the phase-transformation temperature and decomposition temperature of the as-prepared CuI nanorods were deduced from the DSC curve of the products, which decreased markedly compared with those of the bulk CuI material. Moreover, a possible growth mechanism of the CuI nanorods based on polymer-crystal interactions in a mild aqueous solution is proposed.