Synthesis of pod-like Cu2O nanowire arrays on Cu substrate

• Pod-like Cu2O nanowires were grown on Cu substrate.
• Two step heating processes were used to synthesis the new structure.
• A few nanowires with branches were found.
• The Cu2O nanowires were well crystalline with (1 1 1) orientation.

A new structure of Cu2O nanowires was synthesized by a two-step thermal decomposition method of Cu(OH)2 precursor, which operated at 570 K and 770 K respectively. The final samples show pod-like morphology with length about 50–60 um of each nanowire and about 200 nm of each grain. Compared to smooth nanowires, increased surface area was obtained with this structure. Meanwhile, the joint position of two grains was well crystallized corresponding to (1 1 1) growth orientation. Small amount of wires with branches were also found. We attributed formation of this unique morphology to addition of heating step at 570 K during which both CuO and Cu2O were formed.