High aspect ratio silver nanowires (AgNWs) with ultra-long length and thin diameter were synthesized through bromine ion (Br−)-assisted one-step synthesis method. The bromine ions were used as pivotal passivating agent. When the molar ratio of Br−/Cl− was 1:4, the average diameter of AgNWs was as low as ~40 nm, the average length was as high as ~120 μm, and the aspect ratio reached 2500. Networks of AgNWs were fabricated using as-prepared high-quality AgNWs as conducting material and hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) as the adhesive polymer. As a result, a low sheet resistance down to ~3.5 Ω sq−1 was achieved with a concomitant transmittance of 88.20% and a haze of 4.12%. The ultra-low sheet resistance of conductive film was attributed to the long and thin AgNWs being able to form a more effective network. The adhesion of the AgNWs to the substrate was 0/5B (ISO/ASTM). The insights given in this paper provide the key guidelines for bromine ion-assisted synthesis of long and thin AgNWs, and further designing low-resistance AgNW-based conductive film for optoelectronic devices.

Hydrogel-based flexible electronics have caused widespread interest in recent years. However, current hydrogel electronics have its limitations, such as poor biocompatibility, non-reusability, low electrical response to deformation and functionally single....

Silver nanowires with a diameter of ∼20 nm and length of 40 μm were prepared by using 6-chlorohexylzinc bromide as an additive.