Synthesis of silver nanochains with a chemical method

We describe the method of synthesis of chain-like silver nanowires (nanochains) and find the favorable conditions to fabricate them. The nanochains are processed in the hot ethylene glycol solution with constant stirring in the presence of nickel nanoparticles and polyvinylpyrrolidone 360000 molecules. Silver nanochains consist of straight-linear segments connected end-to-end. The length of straight-linear segments is from 100 to 500 nm, the diameter is about 80 nm; the angle between segments varies from 30 to 90°. The total nanochain lengh reaches 100 microns. The mechanism of silver nanochain formation is discussed.