Silver nanowires, and production method and dispersion of the same

Abstract

Silver nanowires coated with, instead of a polymer protective agent such as PVP, an organic protective agent having a smaller molecular weight are provided. The silver nanowires have an average diameter of 100 nm or less and an average length of 5 μm or more, and a thiol having a molecular weight of 75 to 300 is adhered on surfaces of the metal silver. The silver nanowires have a thiol containing one thiol group in the structure adhered thereon. A thiol having only one thiol group (—S—H) in a molecule is a suitable target. Examples thereof include 1-dodecanethiol, 1-decanethiol, 1-octanethiol, 3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol, monoethanolamine thioglycolate, ammonium thioglycolate, and thiomalic acid.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Silver nanowires having an average diameter of 100 nm or less and an average length of 5 μm or more, wherein a thiol having a molecular weight of 75 to 300 is adhered on surfaces of metal silver. 
     
     
         2 . The silver nanowires according to  claim 1 , wherein the thiol has only one thiol group in a molecule. 
     
     
         3 . The silver nanowires according to  claim 1 , wherein the thiol is one or more selected from the group consisting of 1-dodecanethiol, 1-decanethiol, and 1-octanethiol. 
     
     
         4 . The silver nanowires according to  claim 1 , wherein the thiol is one or more selected from the group consisting of 3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol, monoethanolamine thioglycolate, ammonium thioglycolate, and thiomalic acid. 
     
     
         5 . A method for producing silver nanowires comprising mixing a liquid A in which silver nanowires coated with a polymer are dispersed and a liquid B in which a thiol having a molecular weight of 75 to 300 is dissolved to thereby substitute an adhering substance on metal silver surfaces from the polymer to the thiol. 
     
     
         6 . The method for producing silver nanowires according to  claim 5 , wherein the silver nanowires dispersed in the liquid A have an average diameter of 100 nm or less and an average length of 5 μm or more. 
     
     
         7 . The method for producing silver nanowires according to  claim 5 , wherein the thiol has only one thiol group in a molecule. 
     
     
         8 . The method for producing silver nanowires according to  claim 5 , wherein the thiol is one or more selected from the group consisting of 1-dodecanethiol, l-decanethiol, and 1-octanethiol. 
     
     
         9 . The method for producing silver nanowires according to  claim 5 , wherein the thiol is one or more selected from the group consisting of 3-mercapto-1,2-propanediol, monoethanolamine thioglycolate, ammonium thioglycolate, and thiomalic acid. 
     
     
         10 . The method for producing silver nanowires according to  claim 5 , wherein the polymer is polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). 
     
     
         11 . The method for producing silver nanowires according to  claim 5 , wherein the polymer is a copolymer having a vinylpyrrolidone constituting unit. 
     
     
         12 . The method for producing silver nanowires according to  claim 5 , wherein the liquid A and the liquid B are mixed in the presence of one or two of acetone and isopropanol. 
     
     
         13 . A silver nanowire dispersion, wherein silver nanowires as set forth in  claim 1  are dispersed in a liquid medium.