Study of structure formation during electroless plating of thin metal-composite membranes

For a fundamental understanding of the electroless plating technique for pr eparing metal-composite membranes by the appropriate use of osmotic pressur e, as well as for optimization of the deposited films, it is necessary to d evelop a mechanistic model of electroless plating that describes evolution of microstructure during film growth. In the present work, based on data ob tained mainly by using an atomic force microscope, the kinetics of differen t microstructural parameters describing the formation of thin palladium fil ms on porous Vycor glass by the electroless plating technique are presented . Detailed comparisons of these kinetics for cases with and without osmosis are made. A physical model that describes the role of osmosis during the e lectroless plating process is also developed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd . All rights reserved.