Silver nanoparticle catalyst for electroless Ni deposition and the promotion of its adsorption onto PET substrate

Silver nanoparticle catalyst was prepared to replace Pd catalyst for electroless Ni plating. The adsorption of Ag nanoparticle onto the poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was promoted by conditioning the substrate with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane and 3-mercaptopropyl- triethoxysilane. Electroless Ni deposition was started at the PET substrates catalyzed with Ag nanoparticle linking to the substrate via Ag–S bond. The composition and topography of nickel plating PET films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, respectively. Peel adhesion strength, more than 50 N/cm, was achieved for planting nickel layer to the Ag activated PET substrate; however, a relative low value as 10.2 N/cm was obtained for the sample with Pd catalyst by the same measurement. Silver catalyst together with silane modification has the significant merits for electroless deposition of Ni on PET film.