Study of the interaction between copper and carbon nanotubes

► Cu atoms evaporated onto CNTs diffuse rapidly, forming crystalline particles. ► Cu has higher surface mobility on CNTs than Au, Ag, Pt, Pd, Rh, Ni, and Ti. ► Cu getters O from the basal plane but not from oxygenated vacancy sites. ► After exposure to air the nanoparticles restructure to Cu2O. ► O plasma pretreatment gives Cu2O/CNT composites with Cu2O nanoparticle size control.