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High aspect ratio silver nanowires (Ag NWs) were successfully synthesized by CuCl2-mediated synthesis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray diffraction were employed to investigate the morphology and structure of the Ag products, respectively. Suspensions of Ag NW in ethanol were coated on glass substrates by Meyer rod coating to fabricate transparent conducting electrodes (TCE’s). The electrodes were then plasma treated at a power of 75 W. The effects of increasing plasma treatment time and oxygen exposure on the sheet resistance of the transparent electrodes were investigated. A sheet resistance of 8 Ω/sq with an optical transmittance of 80 % at 550nm was obtained for an electrode with a nanowire density of 0.18 mg/cm2 after 5 mins of plasma (Ar) exposure.

High aspect ratio silver (Ag) nanowires with an average length of 25.4 μm and diameter of 102.8 nm were successfully prepared by electroless deposition in hot ethylene glycol (160°C) for 1 h in the presence of PVP. It was found that both PVP concentration and molecular weight significantly influence the morphology and yield of Ag nanowires in solution. Using PVP MW = 55,000, addition of lower amounts of PVP led to formation of large irregularly shaped Ag particles together with a few rod-like structures. Increasing PVP concentration generally resulted in longer and thinner Ag nanowires. On the other hand, low molecular weight PVP produced spherical Ag particles even at high PVP concentration. Ag nanowire flexible transparent conducting electrodes attained a sheet resistance of about 92.5 Ω/sq at an optical transmittance of about 79.6% without any heat treatment. In addition, no significant change in optical and electrical properties was observed after several cycles of bending and adhesion test.

Abstract. Silver nanowires (Ag) were successfully synthesized by a copper chloride (CuCl2)-mediated polyol method at 155oC. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-Ray diffraction were employed to investigate the morphology and structure of the Ag products, respectively. Without CuCl2, mostly nanoparticles were formed. On the other hand, Ag nanowires with an average length of about 18.8 m and an average diameter of about 96.3 nm were formed after addition of 1.6 M of CuCl2. This suggests that the morphology of the Ag nanowire can be tailored by varying the amount of CuCl2. Ag nanowire suspension in ethanol was evenly coated on cellulose acetate substrates using Meyer rod coating. The electrodes were annealed at 150°C for 30 min to remove the organic materials on the surface of the nanowires. A sheet resistance of <50 ohms/sq with an optical transmittance of 80% at 550nm was obtained for an electrode with a nanowire density of 0.1 mg/cm2.

High aspect ratio silver nanowires (AgNWs) with an average length of 40 μm and average diameter of 88 nm were successfully synthesized using waste ethylene glycol as solvent and reducing agent. Silver nanowires with an average length and diameter of 32 μm and 122 nm, were produced after the third cycle of being reused. A transparent conducting film with a sheet resistance of 69 Ω/sq and optical transmittance of 91% was fabricated by Meyer rod coating an ink formulation of AgNWs dispersed in hydroxyethyl celullose (HEC)/methanol/deionized water. The low resistance of the AgNW networks was maintained even after 1000 bending cycles due to HEC acting as binder for the nanowires. The AgNWHEC transparent conductive electrode performed better than bare AgNWs and indium tin oxide (ITO) on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate after several bending cycles. The AgNW-HEC electrode also showed excellent stability against corrosion.