Freestanding silver nanorods (Ag-NWs) sandwiched between poly(allyamine hydrochloride)/polystyrene sulfonate polyelectrolyte bilayers, (PAH/ PSS)(10)PAHAg(PAH/PSS)(10)PAH, and suspended over a 150 pm opening (see figure) have been prepared. At a Ag-NW volume fraction of 22.5%, the membrane is both mechanically robust and electrically conductive.