Agglomerate reduction in a nanowire suspension stored in a container

Abstract

Methods and articles of manufacture for storage and shipping of nanowires are disclosed. One disclosed method includes: (a) providing a nanowire suspension including nanowires suspended in a liquid; and (b) disposing the nanowire suspension in a container for storage and shipping, where the container is configured to inhibit agglomeration of nanowires from the nanowire suspension.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of storing nanowires, comprising:
 providing a nanowire suspension including nanowires suspended in a liquid; and   disposing the nanowire suspension in a container for storage, wherein a wall of the container is resistant to wetting by the liquid, and is configured to form a contact angle with the liquid that is greater than or equal to 90°.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contact angle is greater than or equal to 95°. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the contact angle is greater than or equal to 100°. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wall of the container is formed of, or coated with, a fluorinated polymer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wall of the container is formed of, or coated with, a silicon-based polymer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a head space of the container is sized such that a ratio of a volume of the head space to a total internal volume of the container is less than or equal to 10%. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a head space of the container is sized such that a ratio of a volume of the head space to a total internal volume of the container is less than or equal to 5%. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disposing the nanowire suspension in the container includes adjusting a head space of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the container includes a moveable plunger sized and shaped to fit an internal cross-section of the container, and disposing the nanowire suspension in the container includes confining the nanowire suspension to a volume between the moveable plunger and an opening of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disposing the nanowire suspension in the container includes securing a closure to the container to confine the nanowire suspension within the container. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disposing the nanowire suspension in the container is performed subsequent to synthesis of the nanowires in the nanowire suspension. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disposing the nanowire suspension in the container includes storing the nanowire suspension in the container for at least 2 hours. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disposing the nanowire suspension in the container includes storing the nanowire suspension in the container for at least 14 days. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein disposing the nanowire suspension in the container includes storing the nanowire suspension in the container for at least 30 days. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nanowire suspension includes silver nanowires suspended in the liquid. 
     
     
         16 . A method of storing nanowires, comprising:
 providing a nanowire suspension including nanowires suspended in a liquid; and   disposing the nanowire suspension in a container for storage over a time period of at least 2 hours, wherein a wall of the container is at least one of: (1) resistant to adhesion of nanowires from the nanowire suspension; and (2) resistant to wetting by the liquid.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein disposing the nanowire suspension in the container includes storing the nanowire suspension in the container for at least 14 days. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein disposing the nanowire suspension in the container includes storing the nanowire suspension in the container for at least 30 days. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein disposing the nanowire suspension in the container is performed subsequent to synthesis of the nanowires in the nanowire suspension. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the wall of the container is configured to form a contact angle with the liquid that is greater than or equal to 90°. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the contact angle is greater than or equal to 95°. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the contact angle is greater than or equal to 100°. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the wall of the container is formed of, or coated with, at least one of a fluorinated polymer and a silicon-based polymer. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a head space of the container is sized such that a ratio of a volume of the head space to a total internal volume of the container is less than or equal to 10%. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a head space of the container is sized such that a ratio of a volume of the head space to a total internal volume of the container is less than or equal to 5%. 
     
     
         26 . An article of manufacture comprising:
 a storage container; and   a nanowire suspension disposed in the storage container, wherein the nanowire suspension includes nanowires suspended in a liquid, and the storage container includes a wall formed of, or coated with, a material that is configured to form a contact angle with the liquid greater than or equal to 90°.   
     
     
         27 . The article of manufacture of  claim 26 , wherein the contact angle is greater than or equal to 100°. 
     
     
         28 . The article of manufacture of  claim 26 , wherein the material includes at least one of a fluorinated polymer and a silicon-based polymer. 
     
     
         29 . The article of manufacture of  claim 26 , wherein a head space of the storage container is sized such that a ratio of a volume of the head space to a total internal volume of the storage container is less than or equal to 10%. 
     
     
         30 . The article of manufacture of  claim 26 , wherein a shelf life of the nanowire suspension disposed in the storage container is at least 14 days.