Abstract.Free silver nanowires were produced in aqueous
electrolyte by a novel chemical reaction. Their diameters are about 27 nm,
the lengths range up to more than 70 μm, yielding extreme length to
thickness-ratios up to 2500. Their structure was identified by TEM analysis
(SAED) and HRTEM to consist of a lattice aligned bundle of five
monocrystalline rods of triangular cross-section forming an almost regular
pentagonal cross-section.
It is demonstrated that, for application purposes, single free nanowires can be mounted
between contact areas. This manipulation is enabled by observing the
nanowires in real time at atmosphere by Zsigmondy-Siedentopf farfield
darkfield microscopy.
Experimental results are presented concerning electrical dc–conductivity
and optical plasmon polariton excitation, the latter obtained from a single
free wire without substrate and a single wire deposited on quartz glass.
We also report about a present research cooperation with the Graz group of
Aussenegg and Krenn which is devoted to investigate plasmon propagation
in our Ag nanowires and to prove application possibilities as information
guide fibers – in analogy to optical fibers – which may be integrated into
micro- and nanoelectronic circuits.