Oleylamine Assisted Synthesis of Ultralong Copper Nanowires

Sustainable Electronic Materials Group, Department of Mining, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101

^a Corresponding author: mikertan@gmail.com
^b mdlbalela@gmail.com

Abstract

This paper reports the hydrothermal synthesis of smooth and ultralong copper nanowires (Cu NW) prepared using oleylamine (OM), oleic acid (OA), and Cl^- ion as coordinating and etching agents respectively. Cu nanowires with mean diameters around 82.3 nm and lengths exceeding 300 μm were synthesized using 2 % vol. OM and 1.8 mM OA at 120ºC after 12 h. The Cu NWs exhibit five-fold twinning and growth along the [110] direction. The morphological evolution of the products were also observed and discussed. Without Cl^-, octahedral crystals instead of nanowires were formed. The addition of oleic acid as coordinating agent resulted to fewer particles and smoother nanowires which exhibit excellent mechanical stability. This method provides a simple, low-cost and high yield synthesis of Cu NWs for applications such as gas sensors and transparent conducting electrodes.