Synthesis of copper oxalate in ether-water bilayer refluxing system and their conversion to copper oxide nanowires

Copper oxalate nanowires with a mean diameter of 100 nm and a length of 10 µm were synthesized via the reaction of copper acetate and dimethyl oxalate in ether-water bilayer refluxing system. The volume ratio of ether to water and the concentration of copper acetate were used to examine the effects on forming copper oxalate nanowires. Copper oxalate nanowires were obtained only in the case of the greater volume ratio of ether to water and the lower concentration of copper acetate. Copper oxalate nanowires with a dense structure (enclosed by a smooth surface) can be further transformed into highly porous copper oxide nanowires by the decomposition of copper oxalate nanowires at 350 °C.