Mechanistic studies on the formation of silver nanowires by a hydrothermal method.

Silver (Ag) nanowires were fabricated from silver chloride (AgCl) by the hydrothermal method. The successful formation of Ag nanowires relied on the low solubility of AgCl as a precursor and the structural change of glucose to polymer on the Ag nanowire (protective layer). The Ag(+) ion concentration in the reaction solution containing AgCl was initially low, but after a reaction time of over 12 h, Ag(+) gradually reduced to Ag metal.

Preparation of helical gold nanowires on surfactant tubules.

Electroless gold nanoplating of various forms of surfactant tubules yielded mono-, double- and multi-helical gold nanowires and their yarns in solution.