Stability and structure of nanowires grown from silver, copper and their alloys by laser ablation into superfluid helium.

Nanowires with 5 nm diameter made of silver, copper, and their alloys were grown in superfluid helium. The silver nanowires being heated to 300 K disintegrated into individual clusters. In contrast, copper nanowires were stable at room temperature, and nanowires made of alloys were also stable despite their low melting temperature.