In situ oxide removal, dispersal and drying for copper copper-oxide

A method for removing copper-oxide from copper powder, the method comprising:

• providing a copper powder defined by a plurality of particles, each particle in the plurality of particles having a copper core and a copper-oxide layer surrounding the copper core, the copper core selected from the group consisting of a pure copper and a copper alloy;
• disposing the plurality of particles in an etching solution in a container, the etching solution comprising acetic acid and water, wherein the etching solution removes the copper-oxide layer from each particle;
• decanting the etching solution and the by-products resulting from the copper-oxide removal;
• washing the plurality of particles, wherein substantially all of the remaining etching solution and substantially all of the by-products are removed from the container holding the plurality of particles;
• disposing the washed plurality of particles in an organic solvent, the organic solvent comprising tetraethylene glycol and water;
• directly coating the surface of each copper core in the plurality of particles with an organic material from the organic solvent;
• dispersing the plurality of particles in the organic solvent;
• and
• providing the copper powder as a plurality of dispersed copper cores that are absent a copper-oxide layer surrounding each copper core, each copper core having an organic coating,
• wherein the steps of disposing in the etching solution, decanting, washing, disposing in the organic solvent, coating, and dispersing in the organic solvent are performed in situ with the plurality of particles disposed in liquid, absent any exposure of the copper cores to air.