High yield preparation of silver nanowires by CuCl2-mediated polyol method and application in semitransparent conduction electrode

High yield preparation of silver nanowires (AgNWs) was prepared by polyol method. In this developed polyol process, uniform AgNWs have been successfully synthesized at higher yield by introducing CuCl2·2H2O, when ethylene glycol is used as the solvent and reductant while poly vinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) is used as the capper agent. Then Ag thin films were made by screen printing using silver nanowires and nanoparticles as semitransparent conduction electrodes. The test results indicated that the electrical resistivity could be as low as 0.091 Ω/□, when the transparence rate can reach 45–46%, which shows great promise in the improvement of conductive antireflection coating.

Graphical abstractAg nanoparticles and AgNWs are fabricated into semitransparent conduction electrode by screen printing. After annealing at 300 °C,the sheet-resistance of AgNWs is low to 0.091 Ω/□ and the average transparent rate is 14.2%. The sheet-resistance of AgNWs is low to 8.67 Ω/□ and the average transparent rate is 30%. Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Molar ratio of PVP/AgNO3 and concentration of AgNO3 were varied. ► CuCl2·2H2O glycol solution was added as crystallize assistant. ► High yield AgNWs with high aspect ratio and uniformity were achieved. ► AgNWs were made to be semitransparent conduction electrodes using low cost screen printing. ► The electrodes based on AgNWs had low electrical resistivity (0.091 Ω/□), as well as ideal transparence rate( 45–46%).