Synthetic control of large-area, ordered silver nanowires with different diameters

Silver (Ag) nanowires with different diameters (28, 38, 55, 80, 200 nm) have been successfully fabricated into the anodic alumina membranes (AAMs) by direct-current electrochemical deposition technique. X-ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction analysis show that the as-synthesized samples have preferred (220) orientation independent of the nanowire diameters. Transmission electron microscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy investigation reveal that the large-area and highly ordered Ag nanowire arrays with smooth surface and uniform diameter are synthesized, and they have the high aspect ratio. The formation mechanism of the silver nanowires is also discussed. The nanowire arrays with different diameters may have potential applications in the future nanodevices.