Nanowire preparation, methods, compositions, and articles

Abstract

Nanowire preparation methods, compositions, and articles are disclosed. Such nanowires may be thicker than other nanowires and may be useful in devices requiring high electrical current densities.

1 . A method of producing metal nanowires with reduced nanoparticle coproduction comprising:
 providing a composition comprising:
 a first molar quantity of at least one first reducible metal ion, 
 a second molar quantity of at least one second metal or metal ion, said at least one second metal or metal ion comprising germanium or an ion of germanium, and 
 a third molar quantity of at least one third metal or metal ion, said at least one third metal or metal ion comprising tin or an ion of tin; and 
   reducing the at least one first reducible metal ion to at least one first metal nanowire,   wherein the ratio of (1) the sum of the second molar quantity and the third molar quantity to (2) the first molar quantity is from about 0.0001 to about 0.1.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one compound comprising the at least one first reducible metal ion. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one solvent comprising at least one polyol. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition further comprises at least one of: one or more surfactants, one or more acids, or one or more polar polymers. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first reducible metal ion comprises at least one of: at least one coinage metal ion, at least one ion of an element from IUPAC Group 11, or at least one ion of silver. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second metal or metal ion comprises the at least one second metal in its 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, or +6 oxidation state. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one third metal or metal ion comprises the at least one third metal in its 0, +1, +2, +3, +4, +5, or +6 oxidation state. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the second molar quantity to the third molar quantity is from about 0.01 to about 100. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first metal nanowire comprises one or more silver nanowires.