Hybrid Ultrathin Gold Nanowire Gels: Formation and Mechanical Properties.

This report is about the chemical formation of gels from ultrathin gold nanowires (AuNWs) and the gels' properties. An excess of triphenylphosphine (PPh) initiated the gelation of AuNWs with core diameters below 2 nm and an oleylamine (OAm) ligand shell dispersed in cyclohexane. The ligand exchange of OAm by PPh changes the AuNW-solvent interactions and leads to phase separation of the solvent to form a macroscopic gel.