Method for manufacturing high aspect ratio silver nanowires

A method of manufacturing high aspect ratio silver nanowires, comprising:

• providing a raw feed, comprising:
• a mother liquor;
• and,
• silver solids;
• wherein the silver solids in the raw feed include high aspect ratio silver nanowires and low aspect ratio silver particles;
• providing a dynamic filtration device, wherein the dynamic filtration device, comprises:
• a housing, comprising:
• a cavity having a first side and a second side;
• wherein there is at least one inlet to the first side of the cavity, at least one product outlet from the first side of the cavity and at least one permeate outlet from the second side of the cavity;
• and,
• a porous element disposed within the cavity;
• a turbulence inducing element disposed within the cavity;
• and,
• a pressure source;
• wherein the porous element is interposed between the first side of the cavity and the second side of the cavity;
• wherein the porous element has a plurality of passages that traverse from the first side of the cavity to the second side of the cavity;
• wherein the plurality of passages are large enough to permit transfer of the mother liquor and low aspect ratio silver particles and small enough to block transfer of the high aspect ratio silver nanowires;
• wherein the porous element and the turbulence inducing element cooperate to form a filtration gap, FG;
• and,
• wherein at least one of the porous element and the turbulence inducing element is moveable;
• transferring the raw feed to the dynamic filtration device through the at least one inlet to the first side of the cavity;
• wherein the filtration gap, FG, is filled by the mother liquor;
• wherein the porous element and the turbulence inducing element disposed within the cavity are both in contact with the mother liquor;
• pressurizing the first side of the cavity using the pressure source resulting in a first side pressure, FSP, in the first side of the cavity;
• wherein the first side pressure, FSP, is higher than a second side pressure, SSP, in the second side of the cavity, whereby there is created a pressure drop across the porous element from the first side of the cavity to the second side of the cavity;
• wherein the pressure source provides a primary motive force for inducing a flow from the first side of the cavity through the porous element to the second side of the cavity providing a permeate;
• moving at least one of the porous element and the turbulence inducing element whereby a shear stress is generated in the mother liquor in the filtration gap, FG;
• wherein the shear stress generated in the mother liquor in the filtration gap, FG, operates to reduce fouling of the porous element;
• withdrawing the permeate from the at least one permeate outlet from the second side of the cavity, wherein the permeate comprises a second part of the mother liquor and a second portion of the silver solids;
• wherein the second portion of the silver solids is rich in low aspect ratio silver particles;
• and,
• withdrawing a product from the at least one product outlet from the first side of the cavity, wherein the product comprises a first part of the mother liquor and a first portion of the silver solids;
• wherein the first portion of the silver solids is depleted in low aspect ratio silver particles;
• and,
• wherein the shear stress generated in the mother liquor in the filtration gap, FG, and the pressure drop across the porous element from the first side of the cavity to the second side of the cavity are decoupled.