Formation of oxide nanotubes via oxidation of Fe, Cu and Ni nanowires and their structural stability: Difference in formation and shrinkage behavior of interior pores

Changes in the morphology of Fe, Cu and Ni nanowires with a diameter of 55 nm during oxidation at 423–923 K were studied by transmission electron microscopy. Oxide nanotubes with a cylindrical interior pore of uniform diameter were formed after the oxidation of Fe and Cu nanowires in air at 573 and 423 K, respectively, while the Ni nanowires became bamboo-like nanowires of NiO with separate interior voids after oxidation at 673–773 K. Oxide nanotubes of Fe and Cu and the bamboo structures of NiO showed a tendency to shrink into solid oxide nanowires after annealing at higher temperatures in air. In the shrinking process of Fe3O4 nanotubes, however, an array of additional nanovoids was observed along the inner wall of the nanotubes, suggesting the formation of a duplex porous nanostructure. This can be explained by the recombination of vacancies diffusing outward from the inner cylindrical pore.