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Abstract

A method of thermally drawing fibers containing continuous crystalline metal nanowires therein includes forming a preform comprising an inner core and an outer cladding, wherein at least one of the core and cladding has nanoelements dispersed therein. The preform is drawn through a heated zone to form a reduced size fiber. A second preform is then created from a plurality of fibers created from the reduced size fiber. The second preform is then drawn through the heated zone to form an elongated fiber containing continuous crystalline metallic nanowires therein having a maximum cross-sectional dimension of less than 100 nm. Optionally, a third or additional preforms are created from fibers made from the previous thermal drawing operation that are then drawn through the heated zone to form a fiber containing even smaller crystalline metal continuous nanowires therein. In some embodiments, only a single pass through the heated zone may be needed.

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First Claim