Nanowire formation in a polymeric film

Silver nanowires of diameter similar to 2 nm and length similar to 2 mm have been grown by an electrodeposition method within a polyvinyl alcohol film subjected to a two-stage treatment, viz., in ammonium persulphate and pyrrole solutions, respectively. A staircase current-voltage characteristic has been measured in this composite. Also, the material shows a dielectric constant similar to 10(4). Both these effects are observed when the applied electric field is in a direction perpendicular to that of the electrodeposition process. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(00)02762-5].