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Physicist wants to put EN onto a sputtered Pd sensitization

2003

I would like to apply electroless nickel to a ceramic substrate. In my laboratory I have a sputtering chamber with a palladium target, which allows me to deposit a very thin film of Pd with excellent adhesion. The deposited film consists of isolated nanometer-sized Pd particles in close proximity to each other; the film is not electrically continuous across the surface of the substrate. If my very superficial understanding of the electroless nickel plating process is correct, this should provide the required Pd sensitization. Is this correct?

I will occasionally be plating small parts (optics). There seems to be a wide variety of electroless nickel solutions/kits/systems out there. I have a fume hood, access to hazardous waste disposal, a refrigerator for storing chemicals with limited shelf life, and a decent budget. My highest priority is simplicity (minimum number of steps, room temperature plating process if possible, decent shelf life for reagents, no requirement for tight process control, etc.) and good reproducibility (i.e., not a finicky process). Hopefully, the above "wish list" is not unrealistic.

Thank you for your input.

Jeff Koplow
Research Physicist - Washington, DC, United States

Most EN baths using palladium as catalyst are used for plating on plastics, and they work at low temperature to avoid distortion of substrate. Those chemistries are alkaline and produce continuous deposits with good conductivity but poor mechanical properties (leveling, hardness, fine grain, etc.). Now, depending on you needs you may want to consider an acid formulation instead with working temp around 85C deg. which is easier to control. In any case you will need to get in contact with a reputed chemistry vendor and buy one or two good books. Be ready to spend two or three grands and learn about other chapters of EPA and OSHA besides those you already sure know before getting started.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2003