Silver nanowires prepared on PET structured by laser irradiation

Silver nanowire formation on polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) surface treated by excimer KrF laser is reported. Laser modification of PET was performed with fluence well below its ablation threshold (7 mJ cm−2) under three different angles of incidence. Formed linear periodic nanostructures (ripples) were investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Chemical changes on PET surface induced by laser irradiation, i.e. 2% increase in oxygen concentration, were observed in XPS spectra. The changes were also confirmed by contact angle measurements. Silver nanowires were prepared on laser modified polymer surface (template) by vacuum evaporation at 70° glancing angle of incidence. Metal wires were formed predominantly on the ridges of the laser induced periodic nanostructures. The electrical resistance in longitudinal direction to periodic lines orientation was found to be several orders of magnitude lower compared to that in perpendicular direction. UV-vis absorption spectra showed dependence of wire width on the periodicity of polymer template.