To achieve the fabrication of high-quality Ag-coated Cu particles through a wet chemical process, we reported herein pretreatment conditions using an ammonium-based mixed solvent for the removal of a Cu2O layer on Cu particles that were oxidized in air for 1 hr at 200 oC or for 3 days at room temperature. Furthermore, we discussed the results of post-Ag plating with respect to removal level of the oxide layer. X-ray diffraction results revealed that the removal rate of the oxide layer is directly proportional to the concentration of the pretreatment solvent. With the results of Auger electron spectroscopy using oxidized Cu plates, the concentrations required to completely remove 50-nm-thick and 2-nm-thick oxides within 5 min were determined to be X2.5 and X0.13. However, the optimal concentrations in an actual Ag plating process using Cu powder increased to X0.4 and X0.5, respectively, because the oxidation in powder may be accelerated and the complete removal of oxide should be tuned to the thickest oxide layer among all the particles. Back-scattered electron images showed the formation of pure fine Ag particles instead of a uniform and smooth Ag coating in the Ag plating performed after incomplete removal of the oxide layer, indicating that the remaining oxide layer obstructs heterogeneous nucleation and plating by reduced Ag atoms.

Recent studies have been reported the presence of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds, Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (EDC/PPCPs) in surface and wastewater, which could potentially affect to the complicate behavior in coupled presence of nano-colloid particles and surfactants (adsorption, dispersion, and partitioning). In this study, the adsorption of EDC/PPCPs by Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) as a representative of nano-particles in cationic surfactant solutions were investigated. Hydrophobic interactions (π-π Electron Donor-Acceptor) have been reported as a potential adsorption mechanisms for EDC/PPCPs onto SWNTs. Generally, the adsorptive capacity of the relatively hydrophobic EDC/PPCPs onto SWNTs decreased in the presence of cationic surfactant (Cetyltrimethyl Ammonium Bromide, CTAB). This study revealed that the competitive adsorption occurred between CTAB cations and EDC/PPCPs by occupying the available SWNT surface (CTAB adsorption onto SWNTs shows five-regime and maximum adsorption capacity of 370.4 mg/g by applying the BET isotherm). The adsorption capacity of 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) on SWNT showed the decrease of 48% in the presence of CTAB. However, the adsorbed naproxen (NAP) surely increased by forming hemimicelles and resulted in a favorable media formation for NAP partition to increase SWNTs adsorption capacity. The adsorbed NAP increased from 24 to 82.9 mg/g after the interaction of CTAB with NAP. The competitive adsorption for EDC/PPCPs onto SWNTs is likely to be a key factor in the presence of cationic surfactant, however, NAP adsorption showed a slight competition through CH3-CH3 interaction by forming hemimicelles on SWNT surface.