TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Method: At least some of the withdrawing of the second composition occurs before or simultaneously at least some of the feeding of the first composition. The reduction is performed in the presence of at least one second ion or atom (preferably at least one halide ion). Preferred Components: The continuous-flow reactor consists of the tubular reactor. The first reducible metal ion comprises at least one coinage metal ion, at least one ion from IUPAC Group 11, or at least one ion of silver. The second ion or atom comprises at least one ion or atom from IUPAC Group 8, at least one ion or atom from IUPAC Group 14, at least one iron ion or atom, or at least one tin ion or atom. The metal nanowire comprises a length of at least 10 mu m.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The first composition further comprises at least one polyol and at least one of a protecting agent, a polar polymer, or a polar copolymer. EXAMPLE - A solution (40 ml) of polyvinylpyrrolidone (284.0 g, with molecular weight of 55000) in ethylene glycol (3 l), a solution (40 ml) of AgNO3 (144.7 g) in ethylene glycol (3 l), ethylene glycol (560 ml), and a 6 mM solution (2.6 ml) of FeCl2 in ethylene glycol were blended and charged to an addition funnel equipped to drip into a syringe body that fed the inlet of MASTERFLEX 7518-10 (RTM: peristaltic pump). An oven was heated to 144.5 degrees C, after which the pump speed control was set to deliver 11.9 ml/minute and the addition funnel drip rate was adjusted to maintain a constant head upstream of the pump. After 64 minutes, the pump speed control was increased to deliver 185 ml/minute, with a compensating adjustment in the addition funnel drip rate. When a brownish grey suspension appeared on the outlet of the stainless steel tubing, the pump rate was decreased to deliver 11.9 ml/minute, with a compensating adjustment in the addition funnel drip rate. The product suspension comprises of silver nanowires and many particles.