For the reliable applications of silver nanowires, AgNW, which is used as a conductive transparent film in electronic devices, the isothermal degradation behaviors of AgNW films with and without overcoating were investigated. Accelerated isothermal degradation was performed as a function of temperature, time, and atmosphere. Electrical resistance and optical transmittance were measured and correlated with the microstructural damages, such as formation of oxide particles and fragmentations of AgNW, which were quantitatively determined from the scanning electron micrographs. The overcoating retarded the formation of oxide particles and subsequent fragmentations as well as resulting degradation in electrical resistance without affecting the optical transmittance.

The publication presents experimental verification of a mathematical model of silver nanowire (AgNWs) fabrication in a continuous flow process in a helical tubular reactor. Silver nanowires were synthesised with a polyol process, with ethylene glycol as the reductant of the nanomaterial precursor and solvent of the reactants. The observed average diameters and lengths of AgNWs were 98-226 nm and 5-45 μm, respectively. The experimental conversions of the precursor were 0.71-0.90. A comparison of calculated and measured conversions for the investigated range of residence times and temperatures showed that the observed error was less than 20%.