Template assisted electrodeposition of copper nanowires and their characteristics

Abstract

Copper nanowires of 50 nm diameter have been successfully fabricated via electrodeposition using commercial polycarbonate membrane of pore diameter 50 nm and thickness 10 µm as template. The morphology of wires and crystal structure of material have been analysed by field emission scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction respectively. Nanowires are found to be vertically aligned with cylindrical geometry and thoroughly uniform in diameter. X-ray diffraction pattern exhibit the face centred cubic structure of prepared nanowires. The lattice constant and crystallite size are found to be 3.605 Ȧ and 31.5 nm respectively. I-V characteristics indicate the ohmic behaviour of prepared nanowires. Electrical conductivity is estimated to be 2.02 × 107 Ω−1m−1.