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This study reports the formation, structure, geometric characteristics, and conductivity of composite thin films obtained via the mobile meniscus method from nanodispersed silver particles with diameter less than 10 nm. The film thickness and the conductivity as functions of the weight concentration of a precursor (AgNO3), silver nanoparticle concentration (size), and evaporation temperature are established as well.

Conductive properties of deposits formed on evaporation of drops of silver nanoparticle dispersions were investigated. Deposits comprised two ringlike structures formed along the perimeter of the evaporating drop with the width of the first one being on the order of a few tens of microns and the second one being several hundred microns. It was shown that only the outer ringlike deposit conducted current. Dependences of its conductivity on the precursor content and on the size and concentration of nanoparticles in the initial colloidal solution were investigated, which were found to be similar to the percolation transition. Regularities of the deposit formation and the charge transfer mechanisms were discussed under the assumption that the investigated ringlike deposit represented a metal-polymer composite.

Nanoparticles of silver synthesized in aqueous solutions of polymers are analyzed by various methods. The article presents the results of experimental observations of formation of nanostructures upon vaporization of droplets of nanoparticle dispersions.