Large scale preparation of silver nanowires with different diameters by a one-pot method and their application in transparent conducting films

Abstract

Silver nanowires (AgNWs) with varied diameters were synthesized by a facile and efficient one-pot polyol method. The effects of reaction conditions on the morphology of the as-prepared AgNWs as well as the transmittance and optoelectronic performance of the transparent conducting films made of AgNWs were investigated. Findings indicate that each run of the reaction of the established synthesis protocol can provide more than 10 g of AgNWs, and the dynamic balance between the reduction of Ag⁺ (yielding Ag⁰) and the formation of AgCl nanocubes has an important effect on the yield and morphology of AgNWs. Based on an appropriate adjustment of the reaction conditions, the average diameter of AgNWs can be adjusted in the range of 40–110 nm while the yield of one-dimensional nanostructures in the products is as much as 95%. Furthermore, the as-synthesized AgNWs can be easily spin-coated onto polyethylene glycol terephthalate substrate to afford transparent conducting films with a transmittance as high as 87% and a sheet resistivity below 70 Ω sq⁻¹, which demonstrates that the present synthesis strategy could be of special significance for the commercial preparation and application of silver nanowires as an alternative to commercial indium tin oxide film.