Controllable Preparation of Silver Nanowires and Its Application in Flexible Stretchable Electrode

Abstract

Silver nanowires (AgNWs), as conductive materials for flexible stretchable electrodes, do not only have high conductivity but also have a high specific surface area, excellent stretchability, and mechanical stability, showing great potential applications in flexible electronics such as foldable, stretchable electrodes and wearable devices, etc. This work successfully synthesized AgNWs with controllable morphology by an improved dual-alcohol process. The diameter, length, and size uniformity of AgNWs were effectively regulated by studying the reaction temperature, different control agents, and the dropping rate of the AgNO3 solution. The flexible stretchable electrodes were prepared using PDMS, paper, and nonwoven fabrics as substrate materials, and the impregnation method prepared the flexible stretchable electrodes of conductive fabrics. The properties of flexible stretchable electrodes of AgNWs based on different substrates were compared.