Fabrication of organic copper phthalocyanine nanowire arrays via a simple AAO template-based electrophoretic deposition

Copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) nanowire arrays were fabricated for the first time by the electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method using a porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) template. The barrier layer between the aluminum substrate and the AAO membrane was first removed by progressively reducing the applied anodizing voltage. The AAO template was then employed directly to fabricate CuPc nanowire arrays by direct current EPD. The morphology of the CuPc nanowires was characterized by transmission electronic microscopy and field emission scanning electronic microscopy. The nanowires exhibited smooth surfaces and uniform diameters of about 40 nm. The photoconductivity of the CuPc nanowire arrays was investigated as well.