Synthesis of CuO nanowires on Cu-foil using thermal oxidation method, a novel annealing process

Cupric oxide (CuO) nanowires (NWs) on Cu-foils were prepared by thermal oxidation method in air atmosphere using two annealing manners (continuous and steps) in the temperature ranges of 400–500[Formula: see text]C and 400–600[Formula: see text]C. Morphology and microstructure of the NWs was studied using field effect scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffractogram (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). Optical reflectance spectrum was used for the optical investigation of the layers. We found the NWs formed have two different morphologies, curved and straight, with diameters between 50 nm and 200 nm and lengths between 5 [Formula: see text]m and 10 [Formula: see text]m. SAED pattern of a single NW revealed as a CuO single crystal with monoclinic structure. The reflectance spectra analysis based on Kubelka–Munk method showed that the band gap energy of the CuO NWs are varying in the range of 1.40–1.47 eV depending on the crystallite sizes of the NWs, a confirmation for the happening of the quantum confined effect in these samples.