Electroless process for forming thin metal films

Abstract

Abstract THE INVENTION DESCRIBED HEREIN RELATES TO AN ELECTROLESS PROCESS FOR FORMING THIN METAL FILMS, PARTICULARLY TRANSPARENT FILMS, ON A REACTIVE SUBSTRATE. IT PARTICULARLY RELATES TO A METHOD OF SPRAYING TWO ALKALINE SOLUTIONS~ONE CONTAINING A CHELATED METAL SALT AND THE OTHER CONTAINING A REDUCING AGENT-ONTO A REACTIVE SUBSTRATE TO FORM A METAL FILM BY REDUCTION OF THE METAL SALT. MORE PARTICULARLY, THE INVENTION RELATES TO AN ELECTROLESS PROCESS FOR FORMING METAL FILMS OF METALS CONTAINED IN GROUPS IB AND VIII OF THE PERIODIC TABLE, ESPECIALLY IRON, COBALT, AND NICKEL, BY FORMING AN ALKALINE SOLUTION OF SOLUBLE CHELATED SALTS OF SAID METALS IN AN AQUEOUS MEDIA, PREFERABLY INCLUDING BORIC ACID, AND SPRAYING SAID SOLUTION ON A REACTIVE SUBSTRATE AT SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME TIME THAT AN ALKALINE SOLUTION OF A BORON-CONTAINING REDUCING AGENT, ESPECIALLY ALKALI METAL BOROHYDRIDES, IS SPRAYED ON THE SUBSTRATE. THE INVENTION HAS BEEN FOUND TO BE PARTICULARLY USEFUL FOR FORMING TRANSPARENT FILMS OF COBALT, NICKEL, IRON, AND THE LIKE ON SENSITIZED TRANSPARENT SUBSTRATES SUCH AS GLASS AND PLASTIC.

Inventors

• 👤 Richard G Miller

Bibliographic Details