The influence of the concentration and size of silver nanoparticles on the conductivity of ring-shaped deposits resulting from evaporation of colloidal solution droplets

The conductivity of ring-shaped deposits formed at the periphery of evaporating droplets of silver nanoparticle colloidal solutions has been studied. The dependence of the resistance of the ring-shaped deposits on nanoparticle size has been shown to exhibit a percolation transition. The specific conductivity of the deposits has been estimated in relation to their geometric shapes. The conductivity has been established to nonmonotonically depend on nanoparticle sizes. It has been noted that, in rather strong fields, the conductivity of the composite layers dramatically increases after some induction period. The X-ray spectra of silver have been revealed to alter for samples the conductivity of which has increased under the action of an external electric field.