Nickel nanowires mesh fabricated by ion beam irradiation-induced nanoscale welding for transparent conducting electrodes

In this report, random nickel nanowires (Ni-NWs) meshes are fabricated by ions beam irradiation-induced nanoscale welding of NWs on intersecting positions. Ni-NWs are exposed to beam of 50 KeV Argon (Ar⁺) ions at various fluencies in the range ~10¹⁵ ions cm^-2 to 10¹⁶ ions cm^-2 at room temperature. Ni-NWs are welded due to accumulation of Ar⁺ ions beam irradiation-induced sputtered atoms on crossing positions. Ar⁺ ions irradiated Ni-NWs meshes are optically transparent and optical transparency is enhanced with increase in beam fluence of Ar⁺ ions. Ar⁺ ions beam irradiation-induced welded and optically transparent mesh is then exposed to 2.75 MeV hydrogen (H⁺) ions at fluencies 1  ×  10¹⁵ ions cm^-2, 3  ×  10¹⁵ ions cm^-2 and 1  ×  10¹⁶ ions cm^-2 at room temperature. MeV H⁺ ions irradiation-induced local heat cause melting and fusion of NWs on intersecting points and eventually lead to reduce contact resistance between Ni-NWs. Electrical conductivity is enhanced with increase in beam fluence of H⁺ ions. These welded highly transparent and electrically conductive Ni-NWs meshes can be employed as transparent conducting electrodes in optoelectronic devices.