CuO/NiO core/shell nanowire arrays directly synthesised on copper foam with promising superhydrophobic property

A report is presented on the synthesis of a novel nanoscale core/shell heterostructure with CuO nanowires as the core and NiO nanoparticles as the shell directly grown on copper foam by a two-step solution method. The heterostructures are investigated and analysed by scanning electron microscopy and an X-ray diffractometer. The results indicate that the secondary growth of NiO nanoparticles around CuO nanowires leads to the creation of CuO/NiO hetero-hierarchical core/shell nanowire arrays. The wettability of the CuO/NiO core/shell nanowire arrays after being modified by trichloro (1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyl) silane is studied. The CuO/NiO core/shell nanowire arrays on copper foam present promising superhydrophobic properties with high water contact angles up to 164 ± 2°.