Cu(OH)2 nanowires, CuO nanowires and CuO nanobelts

Cu(OH)2 nanowires, CuO nanowires and CuO nanobelts have been prepared and their (micro)structure is characterized by X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy. Cu(OH)2 nanowires are formed by a self-assembly mechanism of nanocrystals. These nanocrystals tend to orient their [1 0 0] axis parallel or close to parallel with the growth direction. The diameter of the monoclinic CuO nanowires is 8–20 nm. CuO nanobelts are single crystalline; the growth direction is along the [0 1 0] direction and they lie on the (0 0 1) plane; the edge surfaces being the (1 0 0) crystal planes.