Light-assisted nucleation of silver nanowires during polyol synthesis

This report describes the effect of light irradiation on the synthesis of silver nanowires by the well-known polyol method. High quality nanowires are produced in high yields when the reaction suspension is irradiated with 400–500 nm light during the nucleation stage. These studies suggest that light accelerates the formation of the nanoparticle seeds most appropriate for nanowire growth.

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► We found an effect of light irradiation on the polyol synthesis of silver nanowires.
► High quality nanowires are produced in high yields under light irradiation.
► The light irradiation affect only on the nucleation stage.
► Light likely accelerates the nucleation most appropriate for nanowire growth.