• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.102-119
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• 2022

Gold plating is used as a coating of connecter in printed circuit boards, ceramic integrated circuit packages, semiconductor devices and so on, because the film has excellent electric conductivity, solderability and chemical properties such as durability to acid and other chemicals. As increasing the demand for miniaturization of printed circuit boards and downsizing of electronic devices, several types of electroless gold plating solutions have been developed. Most of these conventional gold plating solutions contain cyanide compounds as a complexing agent. The gold film obtained from such baths usually satisfies the requirements for electronic parts mentioned above. However, cyanide bath is highly toxic and it always has some possibility to cause serious problems in working environment or other administrative aspects. The object of this investigation was to develop a cyanide-free electroless gold plating process that assures the high stability of the solution and gives the excellent solderability of the deposited film. The investigation reported herein is intended to establish plating bath composition and plating conditions for electroless gold plating, with thiomalic acid as a complexing agent. At the same time, we have investigated the solution stability against nickel ion and pull strength of solder ball. Furthermore, by examining the characteristics of the plated Au plating film, the problems of the newly developed electroless Au plating solution were improved and the applicability to various industrial fields was examined. New type electroless gold-plating bath which containing thiomalic acid as a complexing agent showing so good solution stability and film properties as cyanide bath. And this bath shows the excellent stability even if the dissolved nickel ion was added from under coated nickel film, which can be used at the neutral pH range.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.175-182
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• 1993

Electroless plating of nickel was studied electrochemically in the presence of complexing agents. Nickel sulfate solution with dimethylamine borance(DMAB) as the reducing agent was used. Effects of temperature pH, concentration and complexing agents-citric acid, EDTA, tartaric acid-were studied.Experimental meas-urements showed that the rate of electroless nickel deposition was closely related to electrochemical parame-ters such as temdperature, pH, concentration and the properties of complexing agets.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2018.06a
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• pp.33.1-33.1
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• 2018

pH is expressed mathematically as $pH=-{\log}[H^+]$, is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration, [$H^+$] to specify the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. The pH scale usually ranges from 0 to 14. Every aqueous solution can be measured to determine its pH value. The pH values below 7.0 express the acidity, above 7.0 are alkalinity and pH 7.0 is a neutral solution. The solution pH can be determined by indicator or by measurement using pH sensor, which measuring the voltage generated between a glass electrode and a reference electrode according to the Nernst Equation. The pH value of solutions depends on the temperature and the activity of contained ions. In nickel electroless plating process, the controlled pH value in some limited ranges are extremely important to achieve optimal deposition rate, phosphorus content as well as solution stability. Basically, nickel electroless plating solution contains of $Ni^{2+}ions$, reducing agent, buffer and complexing agents. The plating processes are normally carried out at $82-92^{\circ}C$. However, the change of its pH values with temperatures does not follow any rule. Thus, the purpose of study is to understand the relationship between pH and temperature of some based solutions and electroless nickel plating solutions. The change of pH with changing temperatures is explained by view of the thermal dynamic and the practical measurements.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.199-204
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• 2015

Recently, fuel cell is a good alternative for energy source. Separator is a important component for fuel cell. In this study, The surface of separator was modified for corrosion resistance and electric conductivity. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was made by Staudenmaier's method. Nickel, phosphorus and rGO were coated on 6061 aluminum alloy as a separator of proton exchange membrane fuel cell by composite electroless plating. Scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy were used to examine the morphology of Ni-P-rGO. Surface images were shown that the rGO was dispersed on the surface of Ni-P electroless plating, and nickel was combined with the un-reduced oxygen functional group of rGO.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.125-130
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• 2007

Many fundamental studies have been carried out regarding waste water and hazardous gas treatment technology using the photolysis effect of $TiO_2$. However, photolysis of both organic and organic-inorganic binders immobilizing $TiO_2$ makes permanent use impossible. In this study we manufactured a catalytic electrode by nickel-$TiO_2$ composite plating in order to immobilize $TiO_2$. The surface properties according to the current density changes of cathode and concentration changes of $TiO_2$ powder in nickel plating bath has been analysed with EDX, XRF, SEM, Raman spectrometer etc. The characterization of the catalytic electrode in decomposition of organic compound has been obtained by using UV-Visible spectrophotometer through analysing concentration changes of methyl orange solution containing the catalytic electrode vs. time with projecting UV-light in the solution. The study shows that a catalytic electrode of nickel-$TiO_2$ composite plating with high-efficiency in decompostion of organic compound has been formed under high concentration of $TiO_2$ powder and low current density of cathode.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.367-374
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• 2000

This paper presents a method to fabricate freestanding structures by (100) silicon anisotropic etching and nickel electroless plating. The electroless plating process is simpler than the electroplating, and provides good coating uniformity and improved mechanical properties. Furthermore, the (100) silicon anisotropic etching in KOH solution with being aligned to <100> direction provides vertical (100) sidewalls on etched (100) surface. In this paper, the effects of the nickel electroless plating condition on the properties of electroless plated metal structures are investigated to apply fabrication of micro structures and then various micro structures are fabricated by nickel electroless plating. And then, the structures are released by silicon anisotropic etching in KOH solution with a large gap between the structure and the substrate. The fabricated cantilever structures are $210\mum$. wide, $5\mum$. thick and $15\mum$. over the silicon substrate, and the comb structure has the comb electrodes which are $4\mum$. wide and $4.3\mum$. thick separated by$1\mum$. It is released by silicon anisotropic etching in KOH solution. The gap between the structure and the substrate is $2.5\mum$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.268-273
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• 2014

In this study, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were treated with nickel by electroless plating method for improving electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding performance of MWCNT. The physical properties of electroless plated MWCNT were analyzed by using ultra-high resolution scanning electron microscope (UHR-SEM), thermogravimetry (TGA), sheet resistance analyzer and EMI shielding analyzer. EMI shielding efficiencies of nickel electroless plated MWCNT were measured to be 16 dB from 800 MHz band, which was 1.6 times increased compared to that of the activated MWCNT. Also, the average sheet resistance of nickel electroless plated MWCNT was measured to be $70{\Omega}/sq$, which was 56% decreased compared to that of the activated MWCNT. This result could be attributed to the plating morphology on the surface of MWCNT. This result could be attributed to uniformity of plating morphology on the surface, which has more effect on EMI shielding efficiency than the amount of nickel plating.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.83-91
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• 1995

A new method for preparation of thin nickel foam for Ni-MH battery was investigated. In this method, fine graphite powders of $1\mu\textrm{m}$～$2\mu\textrm{m}$ diameter were pasted into pores of thin polyurethane foam film in order to supply electric conducting seeds for nickel deposition by electroless plating reaction. After electroless plating, remaining polyurethane foam was removed chemically by organic solvent treatment and graphite particles also removed by ultrasonic cleaning. Porosity of formed nickel foam was about 85% During electroplating, porosity of the nickel foam decreased less than 5% up to $30\mu\textrm{m}$ coating thickness. And then it was electroplated and heat-treated to improve mechanical strength and ductility. Finally, thin nickel foam for Ni electrode of Ni-MH battery with 80% porosity and $350\mu\textrm{m}$～X$400\mu\textrm{m}$ thickness was obtained.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.714-719
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• 1996

For the fabrication of the circuits, contact or terminal areas are usually coated with nickel and gold. Usually, diluted palladium solution is applied to initiate electroless nickel plating on the copper circuits. However, the trace amounts of palladium remains on the resin and it causes the extraneous deposition. We confirmed that selectivity was greatly improved by the treatment with the strong reducing agents such as SBH or DMAB. Bondability was greatly influenced by the contents of phosphorus in the deposited nickel. Stabilizers in the electroless gold plating were also influenced the bonding strength. The baths containing cupferron or potassium nickel cyanide as a stabilizer showed superior bondability. The gold deposits having strong orientation with Au(220) and Au(311) showed good bond ability.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.224-232
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• 2004

Ni-diamond composite powders with nickel layer of round-top type on the surface of synthetic diamond (140/170 mesh) were prepared by the electroless plating method (EN) with semi-batch reactor. The effects of nickel concentration, feeding rates of reductant, temperature, reaction time and stirring speeds on the weight percentage and morphology of deposited Ni, mean particle size and specific surface area of the composite powders were investigated by Atomic Adsortion Spectrometer, SEM-EDX, PSA and BET. It was found that nucleated Ni-P islands, acted as catalytic sites for further deposition and grown into these relatively thick layers with nodule-type on the surface of diamond by a lateral growth mechanism. The weight percentage of Ni in the composite powder increased with reaction time, feeding rate of reductant and temperature, but decreased with stirring speed. The weight percentage of Ni in Ni-diamond composite powder was 55% at 150 min., 200 rpm and 7$0^{\circ}C$ .