Copper nanowires in recent electronic applications: progress and perspectives

Copper nanowire (Cu NW)-based functional electrodes are one of the most important components in next-generation flexible and wearable electronics due to their superior electrical conductivity and remarkable mechanical flexibility. In the past decades, researchers have focused on the study of Cu NWs and have achieved many innovative results from synthesis to applications. Importantly, Cu NWs have immeasurable potential for extensive practical applications, especially in the field of electronic devices, due to their significantly lower price compared to other metal NWs. This review article emphasizes the recent progress of Cu NWs in electronic applications, including flexible transparent electrodes for optical devices, current collectors for lithium-ion batteries, and stretchable electrodes for wearable devices. Furthermore, various technical issues and personal perspectives are discussed that will help the researchers to solve some of the difficulties faced in the future. Finally, we put forward a brief outlook of Cu NWs in the above-mentioned electronics to promote better exploration and development of research for practical applications.