Synthesis and<i>I</i>–<i>V</i>properties of aligned copper nanowires

Abstract

This paper reports the synthesis of well-aligned copper nanowires using an electrochemical deposition template technique. The electrical properties of copper nanowire arrays synthesized within vertical pores of alumina template were measured using a current-sensing atomic force microscope (AFM), with bias voltage applied between the AFM tip and the gold back-electrode. Nonlinear current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of copper nanowire arrays are observed; this is attributed to the impurities near the wire-lead contact region. These vertical copper nanowire arrays are suitable for use in fabricating nanoelectronic devices.