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We report in situ atomic-scale transmission electron microscopy observations of the surface dynamics during Cu2O reduction. We show inhomogeneous oxide reduction caused by the preferential adsorption of hydrogen at step edges that induces oxygen loss and destabilizes Cu atoms within the step edge, thereby resulting in the retraction motion of atomic steps at the oxide surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One dimensional tin/indium (Sn/In) nanowires have been synthesized through a surfactant assisted chemical reduction method in aqueous solutions at low temperature (∼0 °C). Synthetic parameters such as stirring speed, injection rate of reducing agent, and alloy ratio were used to control the size and aspect ratio of the resulting nanowires. It was observed that the diameter of the nanowires was around 70 nm for all the synthesis conditions that were studied, whereas the length of the nanowires can be controlled in the range of 400 nm to 2 μm. The morphology and structure of the Sn/In nanowires were characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and their thermal properties were measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Structure analysis indicated that the Sn/In nanowires were mainly composed of InSn 4 and Sn; whereas no In 3 Sn phase was observed in the nanowires. DSC results confirmed the structures of the Sn/In nanowires that were measured through XRD and indicated that the nanowires started to melt at a relatively low temperature around 118 °C. Finally, a growth mechanism based on the reaction and structural evolution was proposed to explain the nanowire formation and growth process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Reduction of CuO nanowires results in the formation of a CuO/Cu2O hybrid structure. [•] The surface of CuO nanowires is decorated by embedded Cu2O particles. [•] Reduction of CuO nanowires occurs via nucleation and growth of Cu2O particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]