Preparation of Cu–Ag core–shell particles with their anti-oxidation and antibacterial properties

•This method is relatively facile, novel and eco-friendly.•The synthesized powders have good anti-oxidation and antibacterial properties.•The chelating abilities of reaction increases with the increasing [TA]/[Ag] ratio.•Anti-oxidation properties of products increase with the increasing [Ag]/[Cu] ratio.•Antibacterial properties of products increase with the increasing [Ag]/[Cu] ratio.

Cu–Ag core–shell particles were fabricated from Cu particles and silver sulphate with the environmental-friendly TA (tartaric acid, C4H6O6) as reducing and chelating agent in an aqueous system. The influences of [TA]/[Ag] and [Ag]/[Cu] molar ratios on the formation of Ag coatings on the Cu particles were investigated. The SEM images and SEM–EDS analyses showed that [TA]/[Ag] = 0.5 and [Ag]/[Cu] ≥0.2, the Cu particles were coated with uniform Ag nanoparticles. XRD analyses revealed that for these Cu–Ag particles heated at 250 °C, the oxidation of Cu was significantly reduced. Both anti-Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive) and anti-Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) characteristics of this Cu–Ag composite particles showed satisfactory antibacterial ability. The characteristics of the composite Cu–Ag particles were discussed in detail.