Ahmed,

I can recommend the book by Frederick Lowenheim entitled 'Electroplating'
(McGraw Hill 1978). Despite the title it has a good section on autocatalytic
(i.e. electrode-less) plating, complete with recipes. I guess there will be
may be more recent books out there too.

Here in the UK I was able to buy a small amount (1gram) of palladium
chloride from VWR. I'm sure that it must also be easily available in the
USA.

>From my understanding ,you will need both stannous chloride AND palladium
chloride.

Good luck,

Gavin

Gavin Williams
University of Sheffield, UK

> Hello All
>
> I want to deposit electrodless nickel on a silicon wafer with Si02 on the
> surface. From my literature review I have found this is done by
sensitizing
> the surface first with stanneous chloride or palladium chloride or both. I
> currently don't have a good recipe so I am putting out this feeler to see
if
> anyone has any experience on this and could give me information about a
> sensitizing recipe they use. For example a solution compositon, Immersion
> times, stanneous/palladium chloride depositon rate, thickness necessary
for
> Nickel to adhere. Also I cannot find a supplier for the palladium
chloride.
> I have found companies that sell the solution in bulk but not in small
> quantities which is what I need.
>
> Any general information on platting Electrodless nickel on SiO2 would also
> be appreciated
> Thank You
>
> Ahmed Shuja
> Research Assistant
> Center for Microelectronics and MEMS
> University of Cincinnati