We have fabricated CuO-core/TiO2-shell one-dimensional nanostructures by coating the CuO nanowires with MOCVD-TiO2. The structure of the core/shell nanowires has been investigated by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis techniques. The CuO-cores and the TiO2-shells of the as-synthesized nanowires have been found to have crystalline monoclinic CuO and crystalline tetragonal anatase TiO2 structures, respectively. The CuO-core/TiO2-shell nanowires are winding and has rougher surface, whereas the CuO nanowires are straight and have smoother surface. Influence of the substrate temperature and the growth time on the structure such as the morphology, size, and crystallographic orientation of CuO nanowires synthesized by thermal oxidation of Cu foils have also been investigated. All the nanowires have only the CuO phase synthesized at 600 degrees C, whereas those synthesized at 400 degrees C have both CuO and Cu2O phases. The highest density of CuO nanowires with long thin straight morphologies can be obtained at 600 degrees C. In addition, the growth mechanism of the CuO nanowires has been discussed. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.