A Simple Route Towards CuO Nanowires and Nanorods

CuO nanowires and nanorods were synthesized through a novel controllable solution-phase hydrothermal method using a nonionic surfactant polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the structure-directing template. The lengths of obtained 1D CuO nanostructures could be successfully controlled through choosing different molecular weights of PEG. The phase structures and morphologies were investigated by XRD, TEM, HRTEM and SAED. The formation mechanisms of the nanorods and nanowires were investigated and discussed on the basis of the experimental results.