Publication

Abstract : Due to their unique characteristics, one-dimensional copper (Cu) nanowires are being explored for various applications, including optoelectronics, chemical sensing, catalysis, electrocatalysis, etc. Cu is more affordable and accessible than other noble metals, making it a desirable replacement. Cu nanowires are predominantly synthesized using ethylenediamine (EDA) mediated procedure, in which hydrazine is used as a reducing agent. This method does not require high temperatures and produces good-quality nanowires within an hour. However, the toxicity of hydrazine limits the large-scale synthesis of wires using this cost-effective method, inspite of its advantages mentioned above. Hence, this article aimed to replace the toxic hydrazine with environmentally benign ascorbic acid in EDA-mediated procedures. Such green synthesis using ascorbic acid successfully yielded Cu nanowires. As revealed by TEM analysis, these Cu nanowires evolved from micron-sized aggregates of ultra-small particles. Due to the capping action of EDA, nanowires evolved from the micron-sized aggregates of ultra-small particles and resulted in particles attached nanowires (at one end of the nanowires) with a clear particle-wire interface. Environmentally benign synthesized Cu nanowires are examined as catalysts for the remediation of environmental organic pollutant, i. e., 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). Towards the reduction of 4-NP, green synthesized Cu nanowires have shown on-par activity with earlier reported catalysts.