From Complex Chains to 1D Metal Oxides: A Novel Strategy to Cu2O Nanowires

A new strategy has been put forward that small complexes with several linear-aligned metal cations can provide precursors for the growth of metal oxide nanowires, if they can be linearly connected with each other by bridging anions with rodlike micelles confined. As an example, Cu2O monocrystalline nanowires were prepared via a novel complex-precursor surfactant-assisted (CPSA) route, in which linear alignment of copper cations in Cu3(dmg)2Cl4 as precursors provided orientation for the growth of Cu2O nanowires while rodlike SDS micelles drove the linear units of Cu3(dmg)2Cl4 to connect with each other by Cl anions to form [Cu3(dmg)2Cl2]n2n+ and confined the diameter of nanowires. The infrared absorption spectra and laser light scattering show our strategy is reasonable and successful. The band gap of Cu2O nanowires was determined to 2.34 eV by UV−vis absorption spectrum, showing its promising application for the reversible conversion between solar energy and electrical or chemical energy. This method can be easily controlled and is expected to extend to fabricate other metal oxide or chalcogenide 1D nanomaterials.