Surfactant-assisted shape control of copper nanostructures

Stable copper nanoparticles and copper nanorods have been successfully prepared in aqueous surfactant medium. The nanomaterials are stable and resistant towards aerial oxidation. The most interesting aspect of this work is that it is possible to tune the shape of the copper nanomaterials by regulating surfactant concentration.

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► Highly crystalline copper nanorods have been synthesized by a surfactant-mediated method.
► The surfactant concentration has a profound effect on the nanoparticle shape.
► The charge on the surfactant headgroup also affects nanoparticle shape.
► At 1:1 surfactant:precursor ratio, an unstable copper (I) complex is found to form.