Synthesis and characterization of copper nanoparticles for conductive ink applications

Abstract

The synthesis of copper nanoparticles by arc discharge submerged in dielectric liquid (ethylene glycol and diethylene glycol) at ambient atmosphere was studied in this work. The XRD, SEM, and TEM were used for depiction crystalline structure, morphology, and size of copper nanoparticles, respectively. The nanoparticles synthesized contained of both copper and copper oxide. The copper oxide was formed by oxygen free radicals during decomposition of the dielectric liquid. The copper nanoparticles synthesized were spherical morphologies with 10-20 nm. We studied the effect of sodium borohydride sodium hypophosphite and L-ascorbic acid with concentration of 0.1~1 M used as reducing agent. L-ascorbic acid and sodium borohydride could reduce particles synthesized to pure copper at low temperature. The effect of PVP (0.05~0.5M) was then studied. PVP could prevent agglomeration of copper nanoparticles and provide protection for copper oxide formation. We confirmed the formation of copper nanoparticles with in PVP matrix by using FTIR. By adding 0.1 M and 0.5 M PVP in copper nanoparticles synthesized in EG and DEG respectively, the produced copper nanoparticles could maintain for 30 days without oxide formation.