Synthesis of copper nanowires under a direct current electric field.

Nanowires composed of pure copper were synthesized using (KI)(1.5)(CuI)(8.5) thin film under a direct current electric field (DCEF). The (KI)(1.5)(CuI)(8.5) film was used as the medium for transmitting cuprous ions. Investigation shows the copper nanowires with diameters in the range of 20-150 nm were single crystals with a face-centred cubic (fcc) structure. The electric field strength (EFS) was also found to play an important role in determining the diameter of the nanowires.