Assembly of gold nanoparticles into microwire networks induced by drying liquid bridges

Large interconnected gold wire structures (∼cm2) of different topologies have been made by the drying of a gold nanoparticle suspension that has formed a connected network of liquid bridges in the interstices between a 2D crystalline layer of latex particles and a substrate. Slow evaporation of the suspending medium assembles the nanoparticles into a periodic or disordered conducting network of micrometer thick gold wires on the substrate. The presence of surfactants in the suspension is critical to maintaining the stability of the liquid bridge network during the evaporation process.