Electroplating is generally cheaper than ED. Unlike ED, electroplating only deposits on other conductive or semi-conductive materials. Requiring an applied current, the instrumentation for electroplating is more complex. Electroless deposition deposits metals onto 2D and 3D structures, whereas other plating methods such as Physical vapor deposition (PVD), Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) are limited to 2D surfaces. Electroless deposition is advantageous in comparison to PVD, CVD, and electroplating deposition methods because it can be performed at ambient conditions. Electroless deposition can also produce very conformal coatings on complex structures like porous membranes.
The rate of deposition is determined by the kinetics of the autocatalysis, i.e. the efficiency at which the initially deposited islands of metal (or alloy) facilitate the further reduction of the metal salts. In a nickel chloride-sodium hypophosphite bath at 90 °C, the deposition rate is 15 mm/h.
The reducing power of reagents is pH dependent. At pH 0, the E0 of formaldehyde is 0.056 V, but at pH=14 the E0=-1.070. The formaldehyde (pH 14) is a more suitable reducing agent than at pH=0 because of the lower negative standard potential which makes it a powerful reducing agent. The potential dependence on pH is described by the Pourbaix Diagram.
Several mechanisms for ED have been discussed. In the case of nickel hypophosphorous acid, the following summarizes the net equation:
Ni2+ + 2 H2PO−2 + 2 H2O → Ni + H2 + 2 H3PO3
Mirrors for furniture, astronomy, and solar collectors, are produced by silvering using ED. A typical precursor is an ammoniacal solution of silver nitrate as the metal source and glucose or hydrazine as the reducing agent.
Plastics are typically metallized by nickel-phosphorus, nickel gold, nickel-boron, palladium, copper, and silver. Metallized plastics are used to lower the weight of metal product and minimize the cost associated with the use of precious metals. Electroless nickel plating is used in a variety of industries including aviation, construction, textiles, and oil and gas industries.
Electromagnetic interference shielding (EMI shielding) refers to the process by which devices are protected from interference from the electromagnetic radiation. The interference negatively affects the function of the devices; EMI sources include radiowaves, cell phones, and TV receivers. The Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Communications Commission prohibit the use of cellphones after an airplane is airborne to avoid interference with navigation. Elemental Ni, Cu, and Ni/Cu coating on planes absorb noise signals in the 14 Hz to 1 GHz range.
Elemental nickel coating prevents corrosion of the steel tubulars used for drilling. At the core of this industry nickel coats pressure vessels, compressor blades, reactors, turbine blades, and valves.
Modern electroplating. Milan Paunovic, Mordechay Schlesinger (5 ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 2010. ISBN 978-0-470-16778-6. OCLC 792932606.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) 978-0-470-16778-6
"ASM handbook | WorldCat.org". www.worldcat.org. Retrieved 2023-02-24. https://www.worldcat.org/title/21034891
Durney, Lawrence J. (2000). "Electrochemical and Chemical Deposition". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a09_125. ISBN 978-3-527-30385-4. 978-3-527-30385-4
Modern electroplating. Milan Paunovic, Mordechay Schlesinger (5 ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 2010. ISBN 978-0-470-16778-6. OCLC 792932606.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) 978-0-470-16778-6
G. O. Mallory and J. B. Hajdu, editors (1990): Electroless Plating: Fundamentals and applications. 539 pages. ISBN 9780936569079 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier)
Modern electroplating. Milan Paunovic, Mordechay Schlesinger (5 ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 2010. ISBN 978-0-470-16778-6. OCLC 792932606.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) 978-0-470-16778-6
Viswanathan, B. (1994), "Metallization of Plastics by Electroless Plating", Microwave Materials, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, pp. 79–99, doi:10.1007/978-3-662-08740-4_3, ISBN 978-3-662-08742-8, retrieved 2023-02-22 978-3-662-08742-8
Krulik, G. A. (1976). "Electroless plating of plastics". Journal of Chemical Education. 55 (6): 361. doi:10.1021/ed055p361. ISSN 0021-9584. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ed055p361
Jiang, S. Q.; Newton, E.; Yuen, C. W. M.; Kan, C. W. (2006). "Chemical Silver Plating on Cotton and Polyester Fabrics and its Application on Fabric Design". Textile Research Journal. 76 (1): 57–65. doi:10.1177/0040517506053827. ISSN 0040-5175. S2CID 137801241. https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0040517506053827
Telegdi, J.; Shaban, A.; Vastag, G. (2018), "Biocorrosion—Steel", Encyclopedia of Interfacial Chemistry, Elsevier, pp. 28–42, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-409547-2.13591-7, ISBN 978-0-12-809894-3, retrieved 2023-02-22 978-0-12-809894-3
Modern electroplating. Milan Paunovic, Mordechay Schlesinger (5 ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 2010. ISBN 978-0-470-16778-6. OCLC 792932606.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) 978-0-470-16778-6
Modern electroplating. Milan Paunovic, Mordechay Schlesinger (5 ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 2010. ISBN 978-0-470-16778-6. OCLC 792932606.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) 978-0-470-16778-6
Greenwood, Norman N.; Earnshaw, Alan (1997). Chemistry of the Elements (2nd ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann. p. 514. ISBN 978-0-08-037941-8. 978-0-08-037941-8
G. O. Mallory and J. B. Hajdu, editors (1990): Electroless Plating: Fundamentals and applications. 539 pages. ISBN 9780936569079 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier)
Siddikali, Palaiam; Sreekanth, P. S. Rama (2022-08-18). "Performance Evaluation of CNT Reinforcement on Electroless Plating on Solid Free-Form-Fabricated PETG Specimens for Prosthetic Limb Application". Polymers. 14 (16): 3366. doi:10.3390/polym14163366. ISSN 2073-4360. PMC 9415912. PMID 36015623. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9415912
G. O. Mallory and J. B. Hajdu, editors (1990): Electroless Plating: Fundamentals and applications. 539 pages. ISBN 9780936569079 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier)
Aminu, Temitope Q.; Juybari, Hamid Fattahi; Warsinger, David M.; Bahr, David F. (2024-09-20). "Electroless Deposition for Robust and Uniform Copper Nanoparticles on Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) Microfiltration Membranes". Membranes. 14 (9): 198. doi:10.3390/membranes14090198. ISSN 2077-0375. PMC 11434320. PMID 39330539. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11434320
Charles R. Shipley Jr. (1984): "Historical highlights of Electroless plating". Plating and Surface Finishing, volume 71, issue 6, pages 24-27. ISSN 0360-3164 https://www.pfonline.com/cdn/cms/1805_Printable_Version.pdf
Zhang, B. (2016). Amorphous and Nano Alloys Electroless Depositions. Washington State University Pullman.
Charles R. Shipley Jr. (1984): "Historical highlights of Electroless plating". Plating and Surface Finishing, volume 71, issue 6, pages 24-27. ISSN 0360-3164 https://www.pfonline.com/cdn/cms/1805_Printable_Version.pdf
Charles R. Shipley Jr. (1984): "Historical highlights of Electroless plating". Plating and Surface Finishing, volume 71, issue 6, pages 24-27. ISSN 0360-3164 https://www.pfonline.com/cdn/cms/1805_Printable_Version.pdf
Ferrar, W. T.; O'Brien, D. F.; Warshawsky, A.; Voycheck, C. L. (1988). "Metalization of lipid vesicles via electroless plating". Journal of the American Chemical Society. 110 (1): 288–289. doi:10.1021/ja00209a046. ISSN 0002-7863. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/ja00209a046
"Annual Convention of the American Society of Civil Engineers". Scientific American. 64 (23): 352–353. 1891-06-06. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican06061891-352. ISSN 0036-8733. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican06061891-352
"Reports of committees: Annual Meeting". Proceedings of the American Society of International Law at Its Annual Meeting. 41: 163–165. 1947. doi:10.1017/s0272504500101861. ISSN 0272-5045. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0272504500101861
"Reports of committees: Annual Meeting". Proceedings of the American Society of International Law at Its Annual Meeting. 41: 163–165. 1947. doi:10.1017/s0272504500101861. ISSN 0272-5045. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0272504500101861
Brenner, A.; Riddell, G.E. (1946). "Nickel plating on steel by chemical reduction". Journal of Research of the National Bureau of Standards. 37 (1): 31. doi:10.6028/jres.037.019. ISSN 0091-0635. https://doi.org/10.6028%2Fjres.037.019
"Coalescers". Metal Finishing. 107 (11): 52. 2009. doi:10.1016/s0026-0576(09)80396-6. ISSN 0026-0576. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0026-0576(09)80396-6
"Reminiscences of Early Electroless Plating". www.pfonline.com. 6 April 2018. Retrieved 2023-02-16. https://www.pfonline.com/articles/reminiscences-of-early-electroless-plating
Zhang, B. (2016). Amorphous and Nano Alloys Electroless Depositions. Washington State University Pullman.
Modern electroplating. Milan Paunovic, Mordechay Schlesinger (5 ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 2010. ISBN 978-0-470-16778-6. OCLC 792932606.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) 978-0-470-16778-6
Charles R. Shipley Jr. (1984): "Historical highlights of Electroless plating". Plating and Surface Finishing, volume 71, issue 6, pages 24-27. ISSN 0360-3164 https://www.pfonline.com/cdn/cms/1805_Printable_Version.pdf
"Coalescers". Metal Finishing. 107 (11): 52. 2009. doi:10.1016/s0026-0576(09)80396-6. ISSN 0026-0576. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0026-0576(09)80396-6
Benet, William E.; Lewis, Gabriella S.; Yang, Louise Z.; Hughes, D. E. Peter (2011). "The Mechanism of the Reaction of the Tollens Reagent". Journal of Chemical Research. 35 (12): 675–677. doi:10.3184/174751911X13206824040536. ISSN 1747-5198. S2CID 101079977. https://doi.org/10.3184%2F174751911X13206824040536
Tollens, B. (1882). "Ueber ammon‐alkalische Silberlösung als Reagens auf Aldehyd". Berichte der Deutschen Chemischen Gesellschaft. 15 (2): 1635–1639. doi:10.1002/cber.18820150243. ISSN 0365-9496. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cber.18820150243
Benet, William E.; Lewis, Gabriella S.; Yang, Louise Z.; Hughes, D. E. Peter (2011). "The Mechanism of the Reaction of the Tollens Reagent". Journal of Chemical Research. 35 (12): 675–677. doi:10.3184/174751911X13206824040536. ISSN 1747-5198. S2CID 101079977. https://doi.org/10.3184%2F174751911X13206824040536
Modern electroplating. Milan Paunovic, Mordechay Schlesinger (5 ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 2010. ISBN 978-0-470-16778-6. OCLC 792932606.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) 978-0-470-16778-6
Modern electroplating. Milan Paunovic, Mordechay Schlesinger (5 ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 2010. ISBN 978-0-470-16778-6. OCLC 792932606.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) 978-0-470-16778-6
Afzali, Arezoo; Mottaghitalab, Vahid; Motlagh, Mahmood Saberi; Haghi, Akbar Khodaparast (2010-07-01). "The electroless plating of Cu-Ni-P alloy onto cotton fabrics". Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering. 27 (4): 1145–1149. doi:10.1007/s11814-010-0221-8. ISSN 1975-7220. S2CID 55179900. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-010-0221-8
Modern electroplating. Milan Paunovic, Mordechay Schlesinger (5 ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 2010. ISBN 978-0-470-16778-6. OCLC 792932606.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) 978-0-470-16778-6
Afzali, Arezoo; Mottaghitalab, Vahid; Motlagh, Mahmood Saberi; Haghi, Akbar Khodaparast (2010-07-01). "The electroless plating of Cu-Ni-P alloy onto cotton fabrics". Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering. 27 (4): 1145–1149. doi:10.1007/s11814-010-0221-8. ISSN 1975-7220. S2CID 55179900. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-010-0221-8
Modern electroplating. Milan Paunovic, Mordechay Schlesinger (5 ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 2010. ISBN 978-0-470-16778-6. OCLC 792932606.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) 978-0-470-16778-6
Afzali, Arezoo; Mottaghitalab, Vahid; Motlagh, Mahmood Saberi; Haghi, Akbar Khodaparast (2010-07-01). "The electroless plating of Cu-Ni-P alloy onto cotton fabrics". Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering. 27 (4): 1145–1149. doi:10.1007/s11814-010-0221-8. ISSN 1975-7220. S2CID 55179900. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-010-0221-8
Modern electroplating. Milan Paunovic, Mordechay Schlesinger (5 ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 2010. ISBN 978-0-470-16778-6. OCLC 792932606.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) 978-0-470-16778-6
Afzali, Arezoo; Mottaghitalab, Vahid; Motlagh, Mahmood Saberi; Haghi, Akbar Khodaparast (2010-07-01). "The electroless plating of Cu-Ni-P alloy onto cotton fabrics". Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering. 27 (4): 1145–1149. doi:10.1007/s11814-010-0221-8. ISSN 1975-7220. S2CID 55179900. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-010-0221-8
G. O. Mallory and J. B. Hajdu, editors (1990): Electroless Plating: Fundamentals and applications. 539 pages. ISBN 9780936569079 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier)
Durney, Lawrence J. (2000). "Electrochemical and Chemical Deposition". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a09_125. ISBN 978-3-527-30385-4. 978-3-527-30385-4
Modern electroplating. Milan Paunovic, Mordechay Schlesinger (5 ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 2010. ISBN 978-0-470-16778-6. OCLC 792932606.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) 978-0-470-16778-6
G. O. Mallory and J. B. Hajdu, editors (1990): Electroless Plating: Fundamentals and applications. 539 pages. ISBN 9780936569079 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier)
Durney, Lawrence J. (2000). "Electrochemical and Chemical Deposition". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. doi:10.1002/14356007.a09_125. ISBN 978-3-527-30385-4. 978-3-527-30385-4
Cotell, C.M.; Sprague, J.A.; Smidt, F.A., eds. (1994), "Electroless Copper Plating", Surface Engineering, ASM International, pp. 311–322, doi:10.31399/asm.hb.v05.a0001265, ISBN 978-1-62708-170-2, OSTI 872041, retrieved 2023-02-23 978-1-62708-170-2
Afzali, Arezoo; Mottaghitalab, Vahid; Motlagh, Mahmood Saberi; Haghi, Akbar Khodaparast (2010-07-01). "The electroless plating of Cu-Ni-P alloy onto cotton fabrics". Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering. 27 (4): 1145–1149. doi:10.1007/s11814-010-0221-8. ISSN 1975-7220. S2CID 55179900. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11814-010-0221-8
G. O. Mallory and J. B. Hajdu, editors (1990): Electroless Plating: Fundamentals and applications. 539 pages. ISBN 9780936569079 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier)
Modern electroplating. Milan Paunovic, Mordechay Schlesinger (5 ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley. 2010. ISBN 978-0-470-16778-6. OCLC 792932606.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link) 978-0-470-16778-6
Zhang, B. (2016). Amorphous and Nano Alloys Electroless Depositions. Washington State University Pullman.
Schiller, Matthias (2014). "Mirrors". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. pp. 1–7. doi:10.1002/14356007.a16_641.pub2. ISBN 978-3-527-30673-2. 978-3-527-30673-2
Chen, Aicheng; Holt-Hindle, Peter (2010). "Platinum-Based Nanostructured Materials: Synthesis, Properties, and Applications". Chemical Reviews. 110 (6): 3767–3804. doi:10.1021/cr9003902. /wiki/Doi_(identifier)
Viswanathan, B. (1994), "Metallization of Plastics by Electroless Plating", Microwave Materials, Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, pp. 79–99, doi:10.1007/978-3-662-08740-4_3, ISBN 978-3-662-08742-8, retrieved 2023-02-22 978-3-662-08742-8
"Pretreatment for the metallzation of polymers/ plastics". Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research. Retrieved 2023-02-15. https://www.polymer-surface.com/en/examples/metallization-of-plastics.html
Electro-Coating. "Differences & Advantages Between Electroplating & Electroless Plating | Electro-Coating". www.electro-coatings.com. Retrieved 2023-02-24. https://www.electro-coatings.com/electroless-plating-vs-electro-plating.php
G. O. Mallory and J. B. Hajdu, editors (1990): Electroless Plating: Fundamentals and applications. 539 pages. ISBN 9780936569079 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier)
"What is EMI Shielding and Why is it Important for Your Design?". www.modusadvanced.com. Retrieved 2023-02-22. https://www.modusadvanced.com/resources/blog/what-is-emi-shielding-and-why-is-it-important-for-your-design
G. O. Mallory and J. B. Hajdu, editors (1990): Electroless Plating: Fundamentals and applications. 539 pages. ISBN 9780936569079 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier)
"What is EMI Shielding and Why is it Important for Your Design?". www.modusadvanced.com. Retrieved 2023-02-22. https://www.modusadvanced.com/resources/blog/what-is-emi-shielding-and-why-is-it-important-for-your-design
"Portable Electronic Devices". www.faa.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-22. https://www.faa.gov/about/initiatives/ped/
"47 CFR § 22.925 - Prohibition on airborne operation of cellular telephones". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 2023-02-22. https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/22.925
G. O. Mallory and J. B. Hajdu, editors (1990): Electroless Plating: Fundamentals and applications. 539 pages. ISBN 9780936569079 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier)
G. O. Mallory and J. B. Hajdu, editors (1990): Electroless Plating: Fundamentals and applications. 539 pages. ISBN 9780936569079 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier)
G. O. Mallory and J. B. Hajdu, editors (1990): Electroless Plating: Fundamentals and applications. 539 pages. ISBN 9780936569079 /wiki/ISBN_(identifier)