Method for preparing dispersed crystalline copper particles for electronic applications

Abstract

Dispersed crystalline copper particles were prepared by reacting aqueous dispersions of CuCl with ferrous citrate. We report that the Fe(II) citrate complex can reduce rapidly and completely cuprous chloride to metallic copper and propose a mechanism for the reaction observed. By changing the precipitation conditions, copper particles with sizes varying from 250 nm to 2.0 µm were obtained. The method described represents a simple and versatile approach for preparing copper powders for electronic applications.