Preparation of micrometric silver filaments for polymeric pressure sensors

Silver dodecyl-mercaptide (AgSC12H25) decomposes at ca. 200°C producing a mixture of silver sulphide (Ag2S) and zero-valence silver. The metallic phase is produced in form of micrometric filaments, that can be isolated from the sulphide phase by using sonication. Filaments have identical diameter of ca. 2.5 microns and length of hundreds of microns. In addition, they are characterized by low surface roughness and compact structure. The filaments probably result from the template effect of tubular structures (liquid-crystalline columnar phase) developed before mercaptide decomposition.