Pom-Pom-Like Nanowire Clusters Prepared By Potentiostatic Oxidation Of Copper In Nh4hco3 Solution

Formation of hemispherical porn-porn-like clusters of nanowires during potentiostatic oxidation of copper in NH4HCO3 is reported. High-purity copper was oxidized in a three-electrode setup at constant electrode potential ranging from 200 mV to 1000 mV vs. Ag vertical bar AgCl vertical bar sat. KCl for 14 h. The obtained clusters of nanwires were examined using FE-SEM, XRD and XPS techniques. The diameter of nanowires, composed mainly of CuO, Cu2O, Cu(OH)(2), and Cu4O3, was ca. 50-70 nm. The diameter of the clusters strongly depends both on the applied potential and the time of electrooxidation, and was found to be in the range of 1-3 mu m. The mechanism for the formation of such nanowires clusters is proposed.