Simple coating method of carbonaceous film onto copper nanopowder using PVP as solid carbon source

A simple method of carbonaceous films coating onto copper (Cu) nanopowder is investigated with solid carbon source. Copper nanopowder was coated with carbonaceous films using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a solid carbon source via a polyol method. The process time and concentration of PVP solution during the CVD process were controlled to optimize the carbonaceous films coating while preventing nanoparticles agglomeration. From TEM and FESEM, it was found that the necking among copper particles was minimum with 3 min processing time at 900 degrees C using 30 wt% PVP solution. TG-DTA, XPS, FT-IR and Raman analysis confirmed the successful conversion of PVP into few nanometer-thick carbonaceous films layer coating on the surface of copper nanopowder without necking. Therefore, carbonaceous films coated copper nanopowder could be applied in copper ink application for better dispersion and high stability. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.