Low Temperature RF-Plasma Initiated Rapid and Highly Ordered Fracture on Ag Nanowires

Highly ordered Ag particle-chains (AgPCs) have been obtained from Ag nanowires (AgNWs) by radio frequency (RF) plasma treatment. Such conversion is attributed to the fast nonequilibrium diffusion of Ag atoms (liquid-like behavior) on AgNWs surfaces through the plasma bombarding. Further, the formed AgPCs highly coincide with the predictions by Rayleigh instability. In contrast to heat treatment, AgPCs are formed rapidly, highly ordered and at temperature below 100 °C. Furthermore, aperiodicity and wire–wire welding instead of highly ordered particle-chains has been observed as the AgNWs are overlapped by plasma treatment. This work should provide a new perspective for metallic particle-chains fabrication.