Nanowire preparation methods, compositions, and articles

Abstract

Methods of preparing metal nanowire are disclosed that employ quaternary phosphonium salts. Such processes can produce long and thin nanowires. Compositions and articles comprising such nanowires are useful in electronics applications.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 providing at least one first compound capable of forming at least one first halide ion, said first compound comprising at least one quaternary phosphonium salt represented by (I):   
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , and R 4  each independently comprise an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkoxy group, or an aryloxy group, and X −  comprises a halide ion; and 
         reducing at least one first reducible metal ion to at least one first metal nanowire in the presence of at least one of the at least one first compound or the at least one first halide ion. 
       
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one quaternary phosphonium salt comprises tetraphenylphosphonium chloride. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first halide ion comprises at least one chloride ion or bromide ion. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first reducible metal ion comprises at least one of an ion from International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Group 11. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing at least one second compound comprising the at least one reducible metal ion, wherein at least a first portion of the at least one second compound is provided prior to providing at least a second portion of the at least one first compound. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising providing at least one second compound comprising the at least one reducible metal ion, wherein at least a first portion of the at least one second compound is provided after providing at least a second portion of the at least one first compound. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first reducible metal ion comprises at least one silver ion. 
     
     
         8 . The at least one first metal nanowire produced according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . The at least one first metal nanowire according to  claim 8  comprising an average length greater than about 10 μm and an average diameter less than about 50 nm.