Growth mechanism and photoelectric properties of a silver nanowire network prepared by solid state ionics method

A macroscopic silver nanowire (AgNW) network is grown by solid state ionics method. The ion flow during growth of the AgNW network is controlled by maintaining a current in the order of 10^-7 A. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis reveals that the growth direction of AgNWs in the network is irregular and spread evenly in all directions and the nanowires are 40-160 nm in diameter. The microcosmic mechanism of silver nanostructures grown by the solid state ionics method is established by real time and in situ SEM analysis of the growth process of the AgNW networks. To study the photoelectric properties of the network, a self-supported AgNW network sample (∼1 mm wide and 8 mm long) is irradiated with lasers of different wavelengths of 375, 405, 532, 633, 808, and 1064 nm and 10.6 μm, and changes in the current between the two ends of the sample are recorded. The network displays negative photoconductance effect, and the maximum light responsivity is 43 mA W^-1. The network displays light responsivity in the ultraviolet light-to-mid-infrared light region, with response times of tens of milliseconds. These findings indicate that the AgNW network has broad application prospect in ultra-wide spectrum photoelectric detection.