Silver nanowires grown in the pores of a silica gel

Silver nanowires of diameter ∼40 nm and length ∼0.3 mm have been grown by electrodeposition within the pores of silica gels which were heat treated in the temperature range 523 to 823 K and, subsequently, soaked in a silver nitrate solution. A staircase current–voltage characteristic was observed in the direction of electrodeposition after nanowires were disrupted by the application of a dc voltage pulse. Such gels containing interrupted nanowires of silver showed a dielectric constant value ∼104 both in directions parallel and perpendicular to that of electrodeposition.