Morphology control of hybrid Cu–Cu₂O nanostructures fabricated by electrochemical migration

The morphological control of hybrid Cu–Cu₂O nanostructures during electrochemical migration (ECM) fabrication was systematically investigated by performing a series of current-stressing experiments. Here, in order to induce ECM, a direct voltage was applied to two separated Cu electrodes at a fixed distance, which were set in an acrylic cell filled with deionized water. By changing the cell temperature and voltage, porous spongy and bamboo-leaf-like hybrid Cu–Cu₂O nanostructures were obtained. The branch diameter and length increased with an increase in cell temperature, while the increase in applied voltage resulted in fine nanostructures. These results indicate that the morphology of hybrid Cu–Cu₂O nanostructures can be easily controlled by changing experimental parameters, which is advantageous over conventional fabrication methods in which special chemical agents are usually necessary.