title: Silver nanowires--unique templates for functional nanostructures.
abstract: This feature article reviews the synthesis and application of silver nanowires with the focus on a polyol process that is capable of producing high quality silver nanowires with high yield. The as-synthesized silver nanowires can be used as both physical templates for the synthesis of metal/dielectric core/shell nanowires and chemical templates for the synthesis of metal nanotubes as well as semiconductor nanowires. Typical examples including Ag/SiO(2) coaxial nanocables, single- and multiple-walled nanotubes made of Au-Ag alloy, AgCl nanowires and AgCl/Au core/shell nanowires are discussed in detail to illustrate the versatility of nanostructures derived from silver nanowire templates. Novel properties associated with these one-dimensional nanostructures are also briefly discussed to shed the light on their potential applications in electronics, photonics, optoelectronics, catalysis, and medicine.
authors.affiliation: Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439, USA. ygsun@anl.gov
authors.forename: Yugang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
mesh_terms: D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D012834:Silver; D006046:Gold; D012822:Silicon Dioxide