Unveiling the Thermal Transitions of Silver Nanowires via In Situ TEM: Insights into Energy Transfer and Interfacial Stability

Silver nanowires (Ag NWs) possess remarkable attributes, such as high surface area, excellent conductivity, optical properties, and strong anisotropy, rendering them highly promising for diverse applications in flexible electronics, transparent electrodes, and other fields. However, a comprehensive understanding of their thermodynamic behavior remains elusive. Given the temperature sensitivity of Ag NWs, it becomes imperative to unravel their degradation mechanisms, ensuring their reliability in practical usage. In this study, we conducted an extensive analysis of well-defined polycrystalline Ag NWs, employing in situ TEM to investigate their thermal transitions. Our research revealed that the different forms of energy transfer and interfacial stability resulted in different degrees of transformation of Ag NWs under different thermal conditions. We recorded these transformations in complete and detailed videos. These outcomes provide a solid foundation for attaining a comprehensive understanding of the thermal properties of Ag NWs, propelling their utilization in scientific research and industrial applications.