Metallic nanowire networks have emerged as a promising alternative to indium tin oxide (ITO) for transparent electrodes. This review comprehensively surveys the scientific advancements in the field, highlighting the benchmarks from 2020 to 2025. We critically analyse progress across the entire value chain, beginning with the chemistry of nanowire synthesis and network fabrication, where recent advances have enabled scalable manufacturing and a deeper understanding of the chemical properties of nanowires. We then delve into the physics of these networks, examining the relationships between nanowire dimensions, junction resistance, electrical and optical performance, and finally summarizing the state-of-the-art in physical modeling and simulations towards better understanding of networks. We focus on challenges of long-term stability, explaining degradation pathways and the advancement of stabilization strategies such as core–shell structures and nanocomposite encapsulation, that promise lifetimes exceeding industry benchmarks. The review also describes the integration of these metallic nanowire networks into traditional devices such as solar cells, displays, and transparent heaters, along with new emerging applications for low-emissivity coatings, electrochromism, electromagnetic shielding, antimicrobial activity, and computing reservoirs. We conclude by outlining current challenges that involve elimination or reduction of consumption of critical materials such as indium and silver, green manufacturing and cost efficiency."
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