Self‐Assembly of Copper Acetylide Molecules into Extremely Thin Nanowires and Nanocables

Copper acetylide molecules self-assemble into nanowires. Subsequent annealing of the C2Cu2 is shown to produce ultrathin copper wire cores encapsulated in carbon outer layers (nanocables, see figure) through the segregation of the elements. The synthesis is so simple that self-assembled acetylide molecules may provide the most cost-effective production of semiconducting nanowires and thin metallic nanowires.