Preparation of glass fiber-PVA assisted secondary growth of silver nanowires and flexible conductive films

Flexible electronics demand conductive films with high stability and conductivity. However, silver nanowires (AgNWs) face challenges like agglomeration and inconsistent morphology. In this study, AgNWs were synthesized via a two-step process: (1) preliminary growth using a glass fiber template and polyol method (diameter: 0.2–0.4 μm, length: 1–6 μm), and (2) secondary growth by mixing AgNWs with PVA solution followed by heat treatment. The secondary growth enhanced nanowire dimensions (diameter: 5–7 μm, length: 100–200 μm) and conductivity. The optimized film exhibited stable resistance (4 MΩ) after 5000 bends (90° and 180°) and achieved optimal performance at 100 °C/30 min. This method provides a scalable solution for flexible electronics.