https://pureadmin.qub.ac.uk/ws/files/126683921/Edited_sudagar_R1.pdf

Electroless nickel, alloy, composite and nano coatings – A critical review

Metal interconnects, contacts, and electrodes are indispensable elements for most applications of flexible, stretchable, and wearable electronics. Current fabrication methods for these metal conductors are mainly based on conventional microfabrication procedures that have been migrated from Si semiconductor industries, which face significant challenges for organic-based compliant substrates. This Research News highlights a recently developed full-solution processing strategy, polymer-assisted metal deposition (PAMD), which is particularly suitable for the roll-to-roll, low-cost fabrication of high-performance compliant metal conductors (Cu, Ni, Ag, and Au) on a wide variety of organic substrates including plastics, elastomers, papers, and textiles. This paper presents i) the principles of PAMD, and how to use it for making ii) flexible, stretchable, and wearable conductive metal electrodes, iii) patterned metal interconnects, and d) 3D stretchable and compressible metal sponges. A critical perspective on this emerging strategy is also provided.

Polymer-Assisted Metal Deposition (PAMD): A Full-Solution Strategy for Flexible, Stretchable, Compressible, and Wearable Metal Conductors

Herein, we present an innovative approach for transforming commonly available cellulose paper into a flexible and catalytic current collector for overall water splitting. A solution processed soak-and-coat method of electroless plating was used to render a piece of paper conducting by conformably depositing metallic nickel nanoparticles, while still retaining the open macroporous framework. Proof-of-concept paper-electrodes are realized by modifying nickel-paper current collector with model electrocatalysts nickel-iron oxyhydroxide and nickel-molybdenum bimetallic alloy through electrodeposition route. The paper-electrodes demonstrate exceptional activities towards oxygen evolution reaction and hydrogen evolution reaction, requiring overpotentials of 240 and 32 mV at 50 and −10 mA cm−2, respectively, even as they endure extreme mechanical stress. The generality of this approach is demonstrated by fabricating similar electrodes on cotton fabric, which also show high activity. Finally, a two-electrode paper-electrolyzer is constructed which can split water with an efficiency of 98.01%, and exhibits robust stability for more than 200 h. Water electrolysis provides a means to convert water into carbon-neutral fuels, but current devices are typically heavy, inflexible, or require costly substrates. Here, the authors transform paper and cotton fabrics into efficient, durable, and flexible supports for water-splitting electrocatalysts.

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Value added transformation of ubiquitous substrates into highly efficient and flexible electrodes for water splitting.

Electroless plating of copper on surface-modified glass substrate

Synthesis and characterization of novel Cu (II) and Zn (II) complexes of 5-{[(2-Hydroxyethyl) sulfanyl] methyl}-8-hydroxyquinoline as effective acid corrosion inhibitor by experimental and computational testings

We demonstrate a simple route to depositing nickel layer patterns using photocross-linked polymer thin films containing palladium catalysts, which can be used as adhesive interlayers for fabrication of nickel patterns on glass and plastic substrates. Electroless nickel patterns can be obtained in three steps: (i) the pattern formation of partially quaterized poly(vinyl pyridine) by UV irradiation, (ii) the formation of macromolecular metal complex with palladium, and (iii) the nickel metallization using electroless plating bath. Metallization is site-selective and allows for a high resolution. And the resulting nickel layered structure shows good adhesion with glass and plastic substrates. The direct patterning of metallic layers onto insulating substrates indicates a great potential for fabricating micro/nano devices.

Site-selective electroless nickel plating on patterned thin films of macromolecular metal complexes

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for manufacturing a metal pattern, capable of easily forming the metal pattern by the electroless plating on a surface of a base body by using a polymer complex layer.SOLUTION: When forming a metal pattern 7 such as a metal micro wiring on a substrate surface (a surface of a base body 1) to be used for a semi-conductor device, a tester for evaluating electronic components, a probe card, an IC card, an optical device or the like, firstly, in a polymer layer forming step, a polymer layer 3 capable of forming catalyst metal ions and complexes is selectively formed in a scheduled plating area on the surface of the base body 1. Next, in a polymer complex layer forming step, a polymer complex layer 4 of catalyst metal ions with the polymer layer 3 is formed in the scheduled plating area by bringing processing liquid containing the catalyst metal ions into contact with the polymer layer 3. Next, in an electroless plating step, an electroless plating layer 5 (a metal layer) is formed on the polymer complex layer 4 by the electroless plating by bringing the electroless plating liquid into contact with the polymer complex layer 4, and thereby constituting the metal pattern 7.

Asakawa Daisuke

Papers

Site-selective electroless nickel plating on patterned thin films of macromolecular metal complexes

Method for forming metal pattern