CuO nanowires have been synthesized by heating a Cu foil in an ambient condition. The diameters of nanowires can be controlled by changing the annealing temperature. The morphology, composition, and structure were analyzed by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). To investigate the detailed layering structure of the substrates after oxidation, the cross-sectional analysis was also performed by using field emission-SEM and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The EDX measurements indicated that the CuO nanowires were grown on the CuO/Cu2O layer, which was formed on the surface of Cu foil. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.