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Title: Ultralight Conductive Silver Nanowire Aerogels

Journal Article · · Nano Letters
ORCiD logo [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [1];  [2];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [1];  [1]
  1. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States). Physical and Life Science Directorate
  2. Lawrence Livermore National Lab. (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States). Engineering Directorate
  3. University of California, Santa Cruz, CA (United States). Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Low-density metal foams have many potential applications in electronics, energy storage, catalytic supports, fuel cells, sensors, and medical devices. Here in this work, we report a new method for fabricating ultralight, conductive silver aerogel monoliths with predictable densities using silver nanowires. Silver nanowire building blocks were prepared by polyol synthesis and purified by selective precipitation. Silver aerogels were produced by freeze-casting nanowire aqueous suspensions followed by thermal sintering to weld the nanowire junctions. As-prepared silver aerogels have unique anisotropic microporous structures, with density precisely controlled by the nanowire concentration, down to 4.8 mg/cm3 and an electrical conductivity up to 51 000 S/m. Lastly, mechanical studies show that silver nanowire aerogels exhibit “elastic stiffening” behavior with a Young’s modulus up to 16 800 Pa.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC52-07NA27344
OSTI ID:
1393346
Report Number(s):
LLNL-JRNL-730883
Journal Information:
Nano Letters, Vol. 17, Issue 12; ISSN 1530-6984
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 125 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (29)

Reticulate Dual-Nanowire Aerogel for Multifunctional Applications: a High-Performance Strain Sensor and a High Areal Capacity Rechargeable Anode journal January 2019
Highly Carboxylated, Cellular Structured, and Underwater Superelastic Nanofibrous Aerogels for Efficient Protein Separation journal February 2019
Advanced Compressible and Elastic 3D Monoliths beyond Hydrogels journal August 2019
Structurally Controlled Cellular Architectures for High‐Performance Ultra‐Lightweight Materials journal November 2018
Ultralight and Flexible Monolithic Polymer Aerogel with Extraordinary Thermal Insulation by A Facile Ambient Process journal April 2019
Direct Blow Spinning of Flexible and Transparent Ag Nanofiber Heater journal April 2019
Constructing Metal Arch Nanobridges Utilizing a Photothermal‐Induced Nanobonding Technique journal April 2019
Engineering Self‐Supported Noble Metal Foams Toward Electrocatalysis and Beyond journal August 2019
An overview of nanoscale radionuclides and radiolabeled nanomaterials commonly used for nuclear molecular imaging and therapeutic functions: An overview of nanoscale radionuclides and radiolabeled nanomaterials commonly used for nuclear molecular imaging and therapeutic functions journal October 2018
Anticorrosive, Ultralight, and Flexible Carbon-Wrapped Metallic Nanowire Hybrid Sponges for Highly Efficient Electromagnetic Interference Shielding journal May 2018
Buckled Structures: Fabrication and Applications in Wearable Electronics journal February 2019
Versatile Aerogels for Sensors journal September 2019
Effective use of biomass ash as an ultra-high humidity sensor journal September 2018
Fabrication of agarose hydrogel with patterned silver nanowires for motion sensor journal September 2019
Self-healing and superstretchable conductors from hierarchical nanowire assemblies journal July 2018
High-performance stretchable conductive nanocomposites: materials, processes, and device applications journal January 2019
An ultralight and flexible sodium titanate nanowire aerogel with superior sodium storage journal January 2018
Templated synthesis of a 1D Ag nanohybrid in the solid state and its organized network for strain-sensing applications journal January 2018
An ultrahighly sensitive and repeatable flexible pressure sensor based on PVDF/PU/MWCNT hierarchical framework-structured aerogels for monitoring human activities journal January 2018
Precise control of versatile microstructure and properties of graphene aerogel via freezing manipulation journal January 2020
A silver wire aerogel promotes hydrogen peroxide reduction for fuel cells and electrochemical sensors journal January 2019
A highly stretchable and conductive composite based on an emulsion-templated silver nanowire aerogel journal January 2020
A review of electronic skin: soft electronics and sensors for human health journal January 2020
High sensitivity and wide sensing range of stretchable sensors with conductive microsphere array structures journal January 2019
Development of high intensity X-ray sources at the National Ignition Facility journal May 2018
Ultra-low-density silver aerogels via freeze-substitution journal September 2018
Nanostructure and electrical conductivity correlation of O 2 plasma processing and AgNW-coated condensation polymer journal February 2019
Stiff isotropic lattices beyond the Maxwell criterion journal September 2019
Flexible, transparent patterned electrodes based on graphene oxide/silver nanowire nanocomposites fabricated utilizing an accelerated ultraviolet/ozone process to control silver nanowire degradation journal April 2019

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