This article describes a unique combination of inkjet printing of functional materials with an intricate self-assembly process. Gold–silver nanowire (NW) mesh films were produced by a sequential deposition process, in which small metal seed nanoparticle film was deposited at desired areas by inkjet printing, followed by coating with a thin film of NW growth solution. Two different types of NW growth solutions were used: the first, based on benzylhexadecyldimethylammonium chloride, exhibited a bulk solution growth mode and was thus suitable for coverage of large uniform areas. The second type was based on hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide, which induced NW growth confined to the substrate–solution interface and thus enabled patterning of small transparent electrode features, which have the same dimensions as the deposited seed droplets. A selective silver plating bath was used to thicken the ultrathin NWs, stabilize them, and reduce the sheet resistance, resulting in films with sheet resistance in the range of 20–300 Ω/sq, 86–95% light transmission, and a relatively low haze. This simple patterning method of the NW film works at ambient conditions on many different types of substrates and has the potential to replace the conventional photolithography used for indium tin oxide patterning for applications such as touch sensors and flexible/stretchable electronics.

We utilize time-domain Terahertz (THz) reflectivity measurements for characterizing the surface conductivity of Polyethylene-terephthalate coated with nanowire (NW) films to form novel transparent electrodes (TE). We find good correspondence between the film conductivity and the THz-field reflectivity that provide uniquely desirable means for non-destructive, contactless conductivity measurements of large area NW-based-TEs. We demonstrate the robustness of THz reflectivity measurements to deviations invoked on NW film composition and film uniformity. The dependence of THz reflectivity on area NW coverage follows an anisotropic effective medium model for the dielectric constant.

A key aspect of the use of conventional fabrics as smart textiles and wearable electronics is to incorporate a means of electrical conductivity into the single polymer fibre. We present...

We present a unique technique for the aligned growth of metal nanowires (NWs) in an aqueous environment under the shearforce of laminar flow of the aqueous solution applied during NW formation on a substrate. It is based on alignment of self-assembled CTAB (cetyltrimethylammonium bromide) surfactant template nanostructures formed around seed metal particles by the shear-force. The obtained silver-based NW films exhibit anisotropic sheet resistance and linear polarization of the transmitted light in the visible range, which is opposite to the polarization characteristics of regular wire-grid polarizers due to localized plasmon resonances in the visible range and near-infrared. Nickel-based NWs, on the other hand, produced partial transmitted light polarization which was consistent with standard wire grid polarizers. The polarization results are supported by finite difference time domain simulations.