The film is bendable and stretchable, offering potential applications in roll-up touchscreen displays, wearable electronics, flexible solar cells and electronic skin.
Made of fused silver nanowires, the film is said to be produced by suspending the nanowire particles in water and then spraying them through a jet nozzle at supersonic speed. The result is a film which is said to have almost the electrical conductivity of silver-plate – and the transparency of glass.
"The liquid needs to be atomised so it evaporates in flight," UIC Professor Alexander Yarin said. When the nanowires strike the surface, they fuse together, as their kinetic energy is converted to heat.
"The ideal speed is 400m/s," Yarin added. "If the energy is too high, say 600m/s, it cuts the wires. If too low, as at 200m/s, there's not enough heat to fuse the wires."
The researchers applied the nanowires to flexible plastic films and to 3D objects. According to Sam Yoon, professor at Korea University, the film can be bent repeatedly and stretched to seven times its original length and still work.
"It should be easier and cheaper to fabricate, as it's a one-step versus a two-step process," concluded Yarin. "You can do it roll-to-roll on an industrial line, continuously."