Abstract
The influence of a variety of substances on technically relevant parameters of a nickel electroplating electrolyte (Watts bath) has been investigated. Special attention has been paid to the throwing power (TP), as well as visual appearance, current efficiency and codeposition of foreign atoms. Systems reported in the literature (e.g., inorganic salts to increase conductivity or complexing agents to increase polarization) were compared with typical reducing agents normally used in electroless Ni deposition. The mechanism of TP improvement in the case of sodium hypophosphite and dimethylamine-borane has been examined with the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM). Using the EQCM it was shown that there is a synergistic effect between the electrochemical and electroless deposition process. In addition, the activation energy of the latter was determined from temperature dependent measurements.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
K. Müller and E. Raub, Metalloberfläche 15 (1961)262.
H.W. Dettner and J. Elze, ‘Handbuch der Galvanotechnik’,Bd 1/ II (Carl Hanser Verlag, München,1966), p.147.
T.C. Tan, J. Electrochem. Soc. 134 (1987) 3011.
T.C. Tan, Plat. Surf. Finish. 74 (1987) 67.
Z. Abdel-Hamid, Mater. Chem. Phys. 53 (1998) 235.
G. Sauerbrey, Z. Phys. 178 (1964) 457.
H.E. Haring and W. Blum, Trans. Am. Electrochem. Soc. 44 (1923) 313.
A. Bund and G. Schwitzgebel, Electrochim. Acta 45 (2000) 3703.
A. von Krusenstjern and E. Raub, Metall 14 (1960) 521.
S. John, M. Selvam, N.V. Shanmugam and K.N. Srinivasan, Met. Finish. 90 (1992) 48.
R. Brugger, ‘Die Galvanische Vernicklung’, 2nd edn. (Eugen G. Leuze Verlag, Saulgau/Württ., Germany, 1984) p. 60.
A.F. Holleman, E. Wiberg, ‘Lehrbuch der Anorganischen Chemie’, 101th edn., (de Gruyter, Berlin, New York, 1995).
L.M. Abrantes, M.C. Oliveira, J.P. Bellier and J. Lecoeur, Electrochim. Acta 39 (1994) 1915.
L.M. Abrantes, A. Bewick, J.P. Correia, M.C. Oliveira and M. Kalaji, J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans. 93 (1997) 115.
‘Inco Taschenbuch der Vernicklung’, 3rd edn. (Inco Ltd., 1989).
F.A. Lowenheim, Electroplating, Technical Reference Publications Ltd., Port Erin, 1995.
M. Schlesinger and M. Paunovic (Eds), ‘Modern Electroplating’, 4th edn., (Electrochemical Society, Pennington, NJ, 2000).
W. Riedel, ‘Funktionelle chemische Vernicklung’ (Eugen G. Leuze Verlag, Saulgau/Wüertt., Germay, 1989).
K. Stallmann, Galvanotechnik 75 (1984) 1251.
A. Sargent, O.A. Sadik and L.J. Matienzo, J. Electrochem. Soc. 148 (2001) C257.
A. Sargent and O.A. Sadik, J. Electrochem. Soc. 148 (2001) C413.
R. Stevanovic, J. Stevanovic and A. Despic, J. Appl. Electrochem. 31 (2001) 855.
W. Dahms and R. Schumacher, Galvanotechnik 87 (1996) 3963.
I. Ohno, S. Haruyama and O. Wakabayashi, J. Electrochem. Soc. 132 (1985) 2323.
P. Cavallotti and G. Salvago, in L.T. Romankiw and R. Turner (Eds), Proceedings of the Symposium on Electrodeposition Technology, Theory and Practice’, PV 87-17, (Electrochemical Society, Pennington, NJ, 1987), p. 327.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Wehner, S., Bund, A., Lichtenstein, U. et al. Electrochemical investigations on the influence of electrolyte composition of Watts baths with special regard to throwing power. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry 33, 457–463 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024439400709
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024439400709