ź-Rays Irradiation Induced Structural and Morphological Changes in Copper Nanowires

This contribution reports on the effect of ź-irradiations on the structural and morphological properties of copper nanowires (Cu-NWs) within the ź doses varying from 6 to 25źkGy. At 9źkGy, the Cu-NWs started welding, forming perfect X-, V-, II-, and Y-shaped molecular junctions. Further increasing the ź dose up to 15źkGy caused the Cu-NWs to fuse and form larger diameter NWs. At the highest dose of 25źkGy, the nanowires converted into a continuous Cu thin film. However, X-ray diffraction (XRD) results showed that the structure of the Cu-NWs remained stable even after converting into a thin film. The formation of the Cuprite (Cu2O) phases was observed at higher ź dose. The mechanism of forming welded networks of Cu-NWs and Cu thin films is explained via the short and high energy ź-ray wavelengths which act on Cu-Cu molecular covalent bonds isotropically.