Synthesis Of Ultralong Copper Nanowires By Reduction Of Copper-amine Complexes

摘要

Ultralong copper nanowires with a mean diameter of 600nm and a length of 50um were synthesized via the simple reduction of a copper-amine complex in an aqueous-nonpolar bilayer system. The use of a nonpolar solvent, such as cyclohexane, is important in this synthetic process. Several amines, including ethylenediamine (EDA), N,N-dimethylethylenediamine (DMEDA), N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine (TMEDA), and triethyle-netetramine (TETA), were used to examine the ability of the different copper-amine complexes to form copper nanowires. Ultralong nanowires were obtained only in the case of the copper-TMEDA complex. Nanocubic Cu_2O was also observed on the surface of the nanowires; this oxide is formed by direct oxidation of copper in air.