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The past few years have seen a considerable amount of research devoted to nanostructured transparent conducting materials (TCM), which play a pivotal role in many modern devices such as solar cells, flexible light-emitting devices, touch screens, electromagnetic devices, and flexible transparent thin film heaters. Currently, the most commonly used TCM for such applications (ITO: Indium Tin oxide) suffers from two major drawbacks: brittleness and indium scarcity. Among emerging transparent electrodes, silver nanowire (AgNW) networks appear to be a promising substitute to ITO since such electrically percolating networks exhibit excellent properties with sheet resistance lower than 10 Ω/sq and optical transparency of 90%, fulfilling the requirements of most applications. In addition, AgNW networks also exhibit very good mechanical flexibility. The fabrication of these electrodes involves low-temperature processing steps and scalable methods, thus making them appropriate for future use as low-cost transparent electrodes in flexible electronic devices. This contribution aims to briefly present the main properties of AgNW based transparent electrodes as well as some considerations relating to their efficient integration in devices. The influence of network density, nanowire sizes, and post treatments on the properties of AgNW networks will also be evaluated. In addition to a general overview of AgNW networks, we focus on two important aspects: (i) network instabilities as well as an efficient Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) coating which clearly enhances AgNW network stability and (ii) modelling to better understand the physical properties of these networks.

Switchable wetting and optical properties on a surface is synergistically realized by mechanical or temperature stimulus. Unfortunately, in situ controllable wettability together with programmable transparency on 2D/3D surfaces is rarely explored. Herein, Joule‐heat‐responsive paraffin‐impregnated slippery surface (JR‐PISS) is reported by the incorporation of lubricant paraffin, superhydrophobic micropillar‐arrayed elastomeric membrane, and embedded transparent silver nanowire thin‐film heater. Owing to its good flexibility, in situ controllable locomotion for diverse liquids on planar/curved JR‐PISS is unfolded by alternately applying/discharging low electric‐trigger of 6 V. Simultaneously, optical visibility can be reversibly converted between opaque and transparent modes. The switching principle is that in the presence of Joule‐heat, solid paraffin would be melt and swell within 20 s to enable a slippery surface for decreasing light scattering and frictional force derived from contact angle hysteresis (FCAH). Once Joule‐heat is discharged, undulating rough surface would reconfigure by cold‐shrinkage of paraffin within 8 s to render light blockage and high FCAH. Upon its portable merit, in situ thermal management, programmable visibility, as well as steering functionalized droplets by electric‐activated JR‐PISSs are successfully deployed. Compared with previous Nepenthes‐inspired slippery surfaces, the current JR‐PISS is more competent for in situ harnessing optical and wetting properties on‐demand. Switchable optical and wetting properties are highly desirable for up‐to‐date smart surfaces. By embedding a portable, low‐voltage‐driven and transparent silver nanowires heater, the sandwich‐structured bioinspired Joule‐heat‐responsive paraffin‐impregnated slippery surface (JR‐PISS) is competent for in situ tuning these two features in synergy. Insights into the rational design of electric‐induced actuator offer a platform for developing and optimizing next‐generation smart windows.

One of the biggest environmental challenges still facing wastewater treatment is the efficient breakdown of dye pollutants such as rhodamine B (RhB). The development of effective photocatalysts that function in sunlight and visible light can greatly improve wastewater treatment systems. Combining reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with silver/silver chloride core–shell nanowires (Ag/AgCl-NW) might offer special optical and structural properties that enhance its photocatalytic activity for RhB degradation. Ag/AgCl-NW/rGO composite was produced by electroplating rGO onto stainless steel and then covering it with evenly dispersed Ag/AgCl-NW. In 120 min, the Ag/AgCl-NW/rGO composite degraded 99.78% of RhB (dye concentration of 10 ppm at pH 8) under visible light, following pseudo-first-order kinetics (rate constant: 0.0498 min⁻ 1 ) and maintaining its effectiveness for four reuse cycles. The photodegradation pathway is primarily dominated by direct chromophore degradation rather than the more typical de-ethylated rhodamine (Rh-110) pathway. Unlike RhB, Rh-110 is only produced when exposed to visible light, and it is completely oxidized in the presence of sunlight. These findings show the Ag/AgCl-NW/rGO composite to be a promising photocatalyst for effective RhB degradation in visible light and enhanced efficiency in sunlight, highlighting its potential for sustainable wastewater treatment applications.

The growing importance of human–machine interfaces and the rapid expansion of the internet of things (IoT) have inspired the integration of displays with sound generation systems to afford stretchable sound‐in‐display devices and thus establish human‐to‐machine connections via auditory system visualization. Herein, the synchronized generation of sound and color is demonstrated for a stretchable sound‐in‐display device with electrodes of strain‐insensitive silver nanowires (AgNWs) and emissive layers of field‐induced inorganic electroluminescent (EL) phosphors. In this device, EL phosphors embedded in a dielectric elastomer actuator (DEA) emit light under alternating‐current bias, while audible sound waves are simultaneously generated via DEA actuation along with input sound signals. The electroluminescence and sound‐generation performances of the fabricated device are highly robust and reliable, being insensitive to stretch‐release cycling because of the presence of the AgNW stretchable electrodes. The presented principle of integrating light emission and acoustic systems in a single stretchable device can be further expanded to realize sound‐in‐display electronics for IoT and human–machine interface applications. A stretchable sound‐in‐display with electrodes of strain‐insensitive silver nanowires and emissive layers of field‐induced inorganic electroluminescent (EL) phosphors are proposed for generation of synchronized acoustic and visual information. The loudspeaker simultaneously emits light by the EL and generates sound by the vibration of the dielectric elastomer actuator under the same bias, allowing the synesthetic perception of both color and sound.

To date, the silver nanowire-based conductor has been widely used for flexible/stretchable electronics due to its several advantages. The optical nanowire annealing process has also received interest as an alternative annealing process to the Ag nanowire (NW)-based conductor. In this study, we present an analytical investigation on the phenomena of the Ag NWs’ junction and welding properties under laser exposure. The two different laser-induced welding processes (nanosecond (ns) pulse laser-induced nano-welding (LINW) and continuous wave (cw) scanning LINW) are applied to the Ag NW percolation networks. The Ag NWs are selectively melted and merged at the junction of Ag NWs under very short laser exposure; these results are confirmed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), focused-ion beam (FIB), electrical measurement, and finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulation.

Recently, the rapid popularization of modern communication technologies represented by 5G will inevitably aggravate the deterioration of the electromagnetic environment. Electromagnetic interference (EMI) and electromagnetic radiation have more and more serious impacts on human production and life, and EMI shielding materials have emerged as the times require. Herein, we reported a cellulose nanofibril/silver nanowire (CNF/AgNW) nanopaper, manufactured through a step-by-step (SbS) self-assembly process, which has a unique layered structure and improved two-sidedness. The results showed that the obtained AgNWs have an ultra-high aspect ratio (up to 2857), which enabled them to form conductive paths in nanopaper at low addition levels (0.5 wt.%). When the AgNW content was 5.0 wt.%, the obtained nanopaper with a thickness of ~ 50 μm exhibited an excellent tensile strength of ~ 98.6 MPa and a high conductivity of ~ 1673 S/cm. The unique layered structure of CNF/AgNW nanopaper and the excellent synergistic interaction between CNF and AgNWs enabled the optimized CNF/AgNW nanopaper to exhibit a high EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of up to 67.27 dB in the X band. Therefore, this strong and highly conductive CNF/AgNW nanopaper is expected to broaden new application areas including smart clothing, wearable electronic devices, and other emerging applications.Graphical abstractA strong and highly conductivity cellulose nanofibrils/silver nanowires (CNF/AgNWs) nanopaper has been manufactured through the step-by-step self-assembly process. Abundant conductive network and special interlayer structure make the CNF/AgNWs nanopaper holds high EMI shielding performance at a low thickness.

The integration of nanomaterials as electron mediators in electrochemical biosensors is taking on an essential role. Due to their high surface-to-volume ratio and high conductivity, metallic nanowires are an interesting option. In this paper, silver nanowires (AgNWs) were exploited to design a novel catechol electrochemical biosensor, and the benefits of increasing the aspect ratio of the electron mediator (nanowires vs. nanoparticles) were analyzed. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies have shown a homogeneous distribution of the enzyme along the silver nanowires, maximizing the contact surface. The large contact area promotes electron transfer between the enzyme and the electrode surface, resulting in a Limit of Detection (LOD) of 2.7 × 10−6 M for tyrosinase immobilized onto AgNWs (AgNWs-Tyr), which is one order of magnitude lower than the LOD of 3.2 × 10−5 M) obtained using tyrosinase immobilized onto silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-Tyr). The calculated KM constant was 122 mM. The simultaneous use of electrochemistry and AFM has demonstrated a limited electrochemical fouling that facilitates stable and reproducible detection. Finally, the biosensor showed excellent anti-interference characteristics toward the main phenols present in wines including vanillin, pyrogallol, quercetin and catechin. The biosensor was able to successfully detect the presence of catechol in real wine samples. These results make AgNWs promising elements in nanowired biosensors for the sensitive, stable and rapid voltammetric detection of phenols in real applications.

Optical computing has been pursued for decades as a potential strategy for advancing beyond the fundamental performance limitations of semiconductor-based electronic devices, but feasible on-chip integrated logic units and cascade devices have not been reported. Here we demonstrate that a plasmonic binary NOR gate, a 'universal logic gate', can be realized through cascaded OR and NOT gates in four-terminal plasmonic nanowire networks. This finding provides a path for the development of novel nanophotonic on-chip processor architectures for future optical computing technologies. Optical computing, involving on-chip integrated logic units, could provide improved performance over semiconductor-based computing. Here, a binary NOR gate is developed from cascaded OR and NOT gates in four-terminal plasmonic nanowire networks; the work could lead to new optical computing technologies.

Technological development has led to the need for materials able to block electromagnetic waves (EMWs) emitted from various devices. EMWs could negatively affect the working performance and lifetime of multiple instruments and measuring devices. New EMW shielding materials are being developed, while among nanomaterials, graphene-based composites have shown promising features. Herein, we have produced graphene oxide (GO), silver nanowires (AgNWs) composites, by varying the mass ratios of each component. UV-Vis, infrared, Raman spectroscopies, and thermogravimetric analysis proved the establishment of the interactions between them. For the first time, the strength and the nature of the interaction between GO sheets with various levels of oxidation and AgNWs were investigated using density function theory (DFT). The interaction energy between ideal graphene and AgNWs was calculated to be −48.9 kcal/mol, while for AgNWs and GO, this energy is almost doubled at −81.9 kcal/mol. The DFT results confirmed the interfacial polarization at the heterointerface via charge transfer and accumulation at the interface, improving the efficacy of EMW shielding. Our results indicated that AgNWs create a compact complex with GO due to charge transfer between them. Charge redistributions in GO-AgNWs composites resulted in an improved ability of the composite to block EMWs compared to GO alone.