A transparent, conductive, and flexible electrode is demonstrated. It is based on an inexpensive and easily manufacturable metallic network formed by depositing metals onto a template film. This electrode shows excellent electro-optical properties, with the figure of merit ranging from 300 to 700, and transmittance from 82% (~4.3 Ω sq(-1) ) to 45% (~0.5 Ω sq(-1) ).

The theoretical maximum tensile strain--that is, elongation--of a single-walled carbon nanotube is almost 20%, but in practice only 6% is achieved. Here we show that, at high temperatures, individual single-walled carbon nanotubes can undergo superplastic deformation, becoming nearly 280% longer and 15 times narrower before breaking. This superplastic deformation is the result of the nucleation and motion of kinks in the structure, and could prove useful in helping to strengthen and toughen ceramics and other nanocomposites at high temperatures.

In this letter we describe the preparation of large-area, two-dimensional metallic structures using shadow nanosphere lithography. By varying the position of the substrate with respect to the evaporation source during the sample preparation, we make morphologies such as cups, rods, and wires, that are not accessible by the standard nanosphere lithography. This technique also allows for an encapsulation of the metallic structures, to prevent them from oxidation. Morphologies predicted by our computer simulations have been subsequently confirmed experimentally.