Transparent metal nanowire thin films prepared in mesostructured templates.

ABSTRACT

The preparation of conductive and transparent gold/silver nanowire mesh films is reported. The nanowires formed after the reduction of the metal ions was triggered and a thin growth solution film was spread on a substrate. Metal reduction progressed within a template of a highly concentrated surfactant liquid crystalline mesostructure formed on the substrate during film drying to form ordered bundles of ultrathin nanowires. The films exhibited metallic conductivity over large areas, high transparency, and flexibility.