Confined conversion of CuS nanowires to CuO nanotubes by annealing-induced diffusion in nanochannels
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NANO EXPRESS
Open Access
Confined conversion of CuS nanowires to CuO nanotubes by annealing-induced diffusion in nanochannels Cheng Mu, Junhui He*
Abstract Copper oxide (CuO) nanotubes were successfully converted from CuS nanowires embedded in anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template by annealing-induced diffusion in a confined tube-type space. The spreading of CuO and formation of CuO layer on the nanochannel surface of AAO, and the confinement offered by AAO nanochannels play a key role in the formation of CuO nanotubes. Introduction Well-aligned semiconductor one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures have attracted extensive attention in the last decade owing to their great potential in novel optoelectronic nanodevices, such as laser diodes, field effect transistors, light-emitting diodes, and sensors [1]. Copper oxide (CuO) is a p-type semiconductor with a narrow band gap, and is a candidate material for photothermal and photoconductive applications [2,3]. Moreover, it is potentially a useful component in the fabrication of sensors, field emitters, lithium-CuO electrochemical cells, cathode materials, and high Tc-superconductors [4,5]. Its crystallinity, size, and shape and stoichiometry play a key role in these applications. Considerable efforts have been devoted to overcoming numerous challenges associated with efficient, controlled fabrication of these nanostructures via chemical or physical approaches. Thus far, well-aligned 1 D CuO nanostructures have been obtained using techniques such as thermal evaporation [2,6], electrospinning [7], MOCVD [8], and sol-gel process [9]. CuO nanowires were also prepared by conversion from their nanoscale analogs of copper hydroxide at elevated temperatures [10-14]. In this study, a novel approach for the preparation of CuO nanotubes via confined conversion from CuS nanowires
* Correspondence: [email protected] Functional Nanomaterials Laboratory and Key Laboratory of Photochemical Conversion and Optoelectronic Materials, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhongguancun Beiyitiao 2, Haidianqu, Beijing 100190, China
by annealing-induced diffusion in nanochannels is reported. Recently, prior studies including these of the authors have reported the preparation of metal sulfide nanowires by chemical precipitation in anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) channels under ambient conditions [15,16]. In this article, the authors report on the synthesis of CuO nanotubes using CuS nanowires embedded in AAO as precursor. Not only the structure but also the morphology of product could be selectively controlled via this method. The conversion too was easily performed. This approach may be extended to the synthesis of various metal oxide nanotubes by annealing their precursor nanowires embedded in AAO template, and the precursor can be sulfides, carbonates, and oxalates, which can be readily transformed into oxides at elevated temperatures.
Experimental section Preparation
AAO templates used were prepared by aluminum anodic oxidation as described previously [1
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