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°.