Manipulation of crystalline orientation and optical absorption of Cu nanowire arrays embedded in anodic aluminum oxide templates

Cu nanowires (NWs) with controlled crystalline orientation were obtained via electrodeposition inside the nanochannels of anodic aluminum oxide templates. By adjusting electrolyte composition, the orientation of Cu NWs was manipulated between [100] and [110]. [100]- and [110]-oriented single-crystal Cu NWs were also achieved under lower electrodeposition voltages in sulfate electrolyte and citrite electrolyte, respectively. Optical absorption spectrum measurements reveal that the surface plasma resonance peak of the Cu NW arrays has an obvious blue-shift of 11 nm when the orientation of Cu NWs is turned from [100] to [110].