INTEGRATION OF METAL NANOWIRE NETWORK INTO CONDUCTING POLYMERS

A metallic nanowire: conductive polymer composite is fabricated. A metallic nanowire layer is formed by a process that leaves an organic ligand residue on the metallic nanowire layer. A conductive polymer film is formed on a supporting substrate. The metallic nanowire layer is integrated with the conductive polymer film to form a metallic nanowire: conductive polymer composite. The metallic nanowire: conductive polymer composite is wet by a reaction solution including a source of metal ions, at least one acid, and a solvent for a period of time sufficient to remove the organic ligand residues from the metallic nanowire layer and sufficient to grow metal nanoparticles from the source of metal ions to create metal interconnections at junctions where the two or more nanowires in the metallic nanowire layer touch each other. Following growth of the nanoparticles, the nanowire: conductive polymer composite is removed from the reaction solution and dried.