High-pressure polyol synthesis of ultrathin silver nanowires: Electrical and optical properties

Abstract

Silver nanowires whose diameters could be controlled in the range of 15–30 nm and lengths up to ∼20 μm were prepared by the high-pressure polyol method. The first step involved the formation of Ag nanoparticles by reducing silver nitrate in the presence of NaCl and KBr with ethylene glycol. At the growing step, the adjustable reaction pressure controls the diameter of the silver nanowires, which were in the range 15–22 nm when the pressure was 200 psi. These Ag nanowires showed an electrical conductivity of 0.4 × 105 S/cm, and the intensity of scattered light and the optical transmittance were largely improved.