Controllable synthesis of metal hydroxide and oxide nanostructures by ionic liquids assisted electrochemical corrosion method

Cu(OH)2 nanowires have been synthesized by anodic oxidation of copper through a simple electrolysis process employing ionic liquid as an electrolyte. Controlling the electrochemical conditions can qualitatively modulate the lengths, amounts, and shapes of Cu(OH)2 nanostructures. A rational mechanism based on coordination self-assembly and oriented attachment is proposed for the selective formation of the polycrystalline Cu(OH)2 nanowires. In addition, the FeOOH nanoribbons, Ni(OH)2 nanosheets, and ZnO nanospheres were also synthesized by this route, indicative of the universality of the electrochemical route presented herein. The morphologies and structures of the synthesized nanostructures have been characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), and thermogravimetric (TG).

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