Abstract: Nanoscale colorants are introduced to adjust the hue of transparent conductive films, such as to provide a whiter film. The transparent conductive films can have sparse metal conductive layers, which can be formed using silver nanowires. Color of the film can be evaluated using standard color parameters. In particular, values of color parameter b* can be reduced with the nanoscale colorants without unacceptably changing other parameters, such as haze, a* and transparency.

Abstract: Concentrated flowable compositions having a total metal weight of at least about 45 wt % are used to form an electrically conductive material. The compositions include metal particulates such as silver flakes, silver particles and/or silver nanowires, and for embodiments of particular interest, a reducible metal composition such as one or more silver salts. The composition includes an organic precursor that forms a polymeric matrix and includes a dissolved polymer binder, a crosslinkable or polymerizable monomer, oligomer or polymer, or a mixture thereof. The flowable precursor composition can be used to form an electrically conductive structure such as a composite of solid polymer matrix and at least about 45 wt % metal. The composite can have a resistivity of no more than about 5×10?3 Ohm-cm. Methods for forming the flowable precursor composition and the composites are described.

Abstract: Methods for processing deposited metal nanowire inks with metal ions are used to form fused metal nanostructured networks. The metal nanowire inks include a hydrophilic polymer binder, such as a cellulose based binder. The metal nanowire inks can be deposited onto a substrate surface and dried to drive the fusing process. Transparent conductive films can be formed with desirable properties.

Abstract: Concentrated dispersions of silver nanowires are used to prepare qualitatively distinct silver structures with a range of properties. The concentrated dispersions can have a high weight percent of silver nanowires and can be formulated to be flowable liquids or non-flowing pastes. The concentrated dispersions can be stable with no visible settling over the course of a week, can have non-Newtonian rheology, and can be diluted to a desired weight percent of silver nanowires without detrimental effects on the uniformity of the dispersions. The concentrated dispersions can be formulated with or without polymers or pre-polymer components. The concentrated dispersions can be formulated with silver salts to adjust dispersion of the silver nanowires and to improve electrical conductivity of cured silver structures formed from the dispersions. Methods for forming the concentrated dispersions are described as are methods to form silver structures from the dispersions.

Abstract: Composite materials with noble metal coated silver nanowires loaded into polymer are described. The composite materials may have resistivities of no more than about 100 Ohm-cm, or from about 100 Ohm-cm to about 1×1011 Ohm-cm depending on the amount of noble metal coated silver nanowires loaded into the polymer. The noble metal coated silver nanowires may be platinum coated silver nanowires. Metal particulates such as silver flakes or silver particles may be added to the composite materials in order to obtain desired properties. Composite precursor compositions and methods for preparing the composite materials are described.

Abstract: A transparent structure comprising a transparent substrate, a transparent resistive heating element mounted on the substrate, metal traces forming electrodes arranged to be in electrical contact with the transparent heating element and positioned around boundaries of a heated region defining a circuit for electrical flow through the transparent resistive heating element, and a power source connected to the electrodes with the capability of delivering at least 1 volts to the electrodes wherein the transparent resistive heating element comprises a sparse metal conductive layer comprising nanowire segments of noble metal coated silver having a sheet resistance from about 1 Ohms/sq. to about 300 Ohms/sq and having an unpatterned area of at least about 0.25 cm2.

Abstract: Near ambient temperature processing has successfully resulted in highly conductive coatings formed from silver nanowires. The electrically conductive materials can have a high loading of silver and low resistivities. The highly conductive materials can be formed using aqueous inks with high loadings of silver nanowires with greater than 3 wt % metal that is primarily silver nanowires. Methods of preparing the high loading inks can comprise forming a good dispersion of the silver nanowires and removing solvent to concentrate the dispersions. A range of binders can be used including, for example, UV crosslinkable binders. Generally, the organic concentration of the highly conductive materials is no more than 25 wt %, although this can correspond to higher volume fractions of organics while still achieving good electrical conduction.

Abstract: Metal nanowires, such as silver nanowires coated on a substrate were sintered together to form fused metal nanowire networks that have greatly improved conductivity while maintaining good transparency and low haze. The method of forming such a fused metal nanowire networks are disclosed that involves exposure of metal nanowires to various fusing agents on a short timescale. The resulting sintered network can have a core-shell structure in which metal halide forms the shell. Additionally, effective methods are described for forming patterned structure with areas of sintered metal nanowire network with high conductivity and areas of un-sintered metal nanowires with low conductivity. The corresponding patterned films are also described.

Abstract: Transparent conductive films comprising sparse metal conductive layers are processed after coating with an overcoat to lower the sheet resistance of the film. The sparse metal conductive layer can comprise a fused metal nanostructured network. A coating, such as a polymer overcoat or a polymer undercoat can noble metal ions that can further reduce the sheet resistance with the application of heat and optionally humidity. In particular, silver ions in a coating are demonstrated to provide important stabilization of sparse metal conductive layers, whether or not fused, upon the application of heat and humidity. A coating can further comprise a metal salt stabilization composition.

Abstract: A method of forming a transparent electrically conductive film including depositing a dispersion of metal nanowires onto a substrate surface, delivering a solution including a fusing agent in a solvent onto the substrate surface, and drying the substrate surface after depositing the metal nanowires and delivering the fusing agent solution to fuse at least some of the metal nanowires into the transparent electrically conductive film comprising a fused metal nanowire network.

Abstract: Structures are described having thin flexible polymer substrates with electrically conductive films on each opposing surface while having high optical transmittance and good optical properties. The structures can have total thicknesses of no more than about 30 microns and good flexibility. Processing approaches are described that allow for the coating of the very thin structures by providing support through the coating process. The structures are demonstrated to have good durability under conditions designed to test accelerated wear for touch sensor use.

Abstract: Fusing nanowire inks are described that can also comprise a hydrophilic polymer binder, such as a cellulose based binder. The fusing nanowire inks can be deposited onto a substrate surface and dried to drive the fusing process. Transparent conductive films can be formed with desirable properties.

Abstract: Room temperature processing has successfully resulted in highly conductive coatings formed from silver nanowires with a cellulose binder. The conductive coatings can be formed with silver salts to fuse the silver nanowires into a unitary fused metal nanostructured network. Even without added silver salts, low sheet resistance values can be obtained. Room temperature processing can be effective over a range of transmittance values from highly transparent to modestly transparent to translucent to opaque. The ability to form the transparent coatings opens the processing to a wide range of substrates that are not processible with higher process temperatures.

Abstract: Highly uniform and thin silver nanowires are described having average diameters below 20 nm and a small standard deviation of the diameters. The silver nanowires have a high aspect ratio. The silver nanowires can be characterized by a small number of nanowires having a diameter greater than 18 nm as well as with a blue shifted narrow absorption spectrum in a dilute solution. Methods are described to allow for the synthesis of the narrow uniform silver nanowires. Transparent conductive films formed from the thin, uniform silver nanowires can have very low levels of haze and low values of ?L*, the diffusive luminosity, such that the transparent conductive films can provide little alteration of the appearance of a black background.

Abstract: Metal salt based stabilizers are described that are effective to improve stability of sparse metal conductive films formed with metal nanowires, especially silver nanowires. Specifically, vanadium (+5) compositions can be effectively placed in coatings to provide desirable stabilization under accelerated wear testing conditions. Sparse metal conductive films can comprise fused metal nanostructured networks. Cobalt (+2) compounds can be incorporated as stabilization agents within nanowire inks to provide a high degree of stabilization without significantly interfering with the fusing process.

Abstract: Transparent conductive films comprising sparse metal conductive layers are processed after coating with an overcoat to lower the sheet resistance of the film. The sparse metal conductive layer can comprise a fused metal nanostructured network. A coating, such as a polymer overcoat or a polymer undercoat can noble metal ions that can further reduce the sheet resistance with the application of heat and optionally humidity. In particular, silver ions in a coating are demonstrated to provide important stabilization of sparse metal conductive layers, whether or not fused, upon the application of heat and humidity. A coating can further comprise a metal salt stabilization composition.

Abstract: Fusing nanowire inks are described that can also comprise a hydrophilic polymer binder, such as a cellulose based binder. The fusing nanowire inks can be deposited onto a substrate surface and dried to drive the fusing process. Transparent conductive films can be formed with desirable properties.

Abstract: Metal salt based stabilizers are described that are effective to improve stability of sparse metal conductive films formed with metal nanowires, especially silver nanowires. Specifically, vanadium (+5) compositions can be effectively placed in coatings to provide desirable stabilization under accelerated wear testing conditions. Sparse metal conductive films can comprise fused metal nanostructured networks. Cobalt (+2) compounds can be incorporated as stabilization agents within nanowire inks to provide a high degree of stabilization without significantly interfering with the fusing process.

Abstract: Metal nanowires with uniform noble metal coatings are described. Two methods, galvanic exchange and direct deposition, are disclosed for the successful formation of the uniform noble metal coatings. Both the galvanic exchange reaction and the direct deposition method benefit from the inclusion of appropriately strong binding ligands to control or mediate the coating process to provide for the formation of a uniform coating. The noble metal coated nanowires are effective for the production of stable transparent conductive films, which may comprise a fused metal nanostructured network.

Abstract: Metal nanowires with uniform noble metal coatings are described. Two methods, galvanic exchange and direct deposition, are disclosed for the successful formation of the uniform noble metal coatings. Both the galvanic exchange reaction and the direct deposition method benefit from the inclusion of appropriately strong binding ligands to control or mediate the coating process to provide for the formation of a uniform coating. The noble metal coated nanowires are effective for the production of stable transparent conductive films, which may comprise a fused metal nanostructured network.