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In the past few years, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the interest towards textiles with antimicrobial functionalities faced a significant boost. This study proposes a rapid and convenient method, in terms of reactants and equipment, for fabricating antimicrobial coatings on textiles. Through the electroless silver plating reaction, silver coatings were successfully applied on cotton and polyester, rapidly and at room temperature. Functionalized samples were characterized by morphological (optical and scanning electron microscopies) and chemical tests (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS) to investigate the nature of the silver coating. Although distinct nanoparticles did not form, XPS analysis detected the presence of silver, which resulted in an increased surface roughness and hydrophobicity of both cotton and polyester textiles. Ag-coated samples exhibited approximately 80% biocompatibility with murine L929 fibroblasts or human HaCaT cells, and strong antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli in direct contact tests. In antiviral experiments with SARS-CoV-2 virus, treated cotton showed a 100% viral reduction in 30 min, while polyester achieved 100% reduction in 1 h. With a human norovirus surrogate, the Feline Calicivirus, both treated textiles have a faster antiviral response, with more than 60% viral reduction after 5 min, while achieving a 100% reduction in 1 h. In conclusion, this study presents a fast, efficient, and low-cost solution for producing antimicrobial textiles with broad applications in medical and healthcare scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilization of industrial by-products to develop novel value-added materials while mitigating their environmental impact is a crucial issue. Fly ash (FA) microparticles are a common component of power plant waste. This work aims to investigate the impact of varying concentrations of neat/silver-coated FA on the morphology and thermal properties of styrene-butadiene-styrene/FA composites. Composite materials based on styrene-butadiene styrene triblock copolymer (SBS) with various volume fractions of as-received and silver-coated FA were prepared using a solution mixing method. Silver-coated cenosphere particles were prepared using an electroless plating method. Scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy showed that the solution mixing method obtains composite materials characterized by uniform dispersion of filler without large particle aggregates and predominantly unbroken cenospheres. The tensile strength of the composite with 10% of both as-received and silver-coated fly ash remains at the level of the unfilled SBS sample. However, at higher filler concentrations (20% and 30%), a decrease in strength by 27% and 42% respectively is observed, possibly due to the agglomeration of FA, which leads to a poorer interface and dispersion at higher filler weights. Additionally, thermal analysis in an oxygen atmosphere showed that the introduction of both as-received and metallized cenospheres in the same quantity increased the thermal stability of the tested composition. The temperatures at 5% mass loss of SBS/FA composites were on average 70°C higher than those of the original SBS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In view of the importance of metal coatings, this study addresses the ion concentration of the anti‐corrosive coating's immersion solution. The physical properties of the coating surface, such as molecular characteristics, smoothness, and structural strength, were changed by adding nano‐SiO2 in the immersion solution to formulate the best scheme for anti‐corrosive performance. The composite coating was prepared on the surface of AZ31B magnesium alloy by electroless plating. Besides, the surface coating based on AZ31B substrate has high‐quality corrosion resistance to different types of contaminated media. The experimental results demonstrate that the nanocomposite coating can form an ultrafine particle‐filling effect on the metal surface, which is lower than the drag force of the conventional metal surface. Considering the slip velocity gradient in the contact coating area, we reduce the shear stress and drag force, verifying the nanocomposite coating's effect on reducing the reaction force. The contact angle of water droplets in the composite coating is greater than 158.7°. The study finally verifies that the prepared coating has good self‐cleaning potential which can prevent the corrosion of different polluted media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple and efficient preparation of highly active electrocatalysts is of great significance for water splitting. Herein, Co–Fe–Mn–P/NF electrode was prepared on a nickel foam through electroless plating-acid etching strategy, which showed excellent bifunctional catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in 1 M KOH. For HER, only 13 and 78 mV overpotentials are needed to reach current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm−2 with Tafel slopes as low as 33.7 mV dec−1. While for OER, the Co–Fe–Mn–P/NF required small overpotentials of 275 and 327 mV to reach the current densities of 10 and 100 mA cm−2, and the Tafel slope is only 34.8 mV dec−1. In addition, Co–Fe–Mn–P/NF only needs 1.562 V to drive water splitting to produce a current density of 10 mA cm−2. Furthermore, it also demonstrated excellent stability by maintaining stable operation for more than 24 h. • A new type of Co–Fe–Mn–P/NF self-supporting electrocatalyst. • Simple two-step synthesis: electroless plating and acid etching. • Efficient HER and OER bifunctional catalytic performance and reliable stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rational design of efficient and economical bifunctional electrocatalysts remained a challenge for overall water electrolysis. In this work, the Ni‐boride/ phosphide particles anchored amorphous B‐doped carbon layer with hierarchical porous characteristics in Ni foam (Ni3P/Ni3B/B−C/NF) was fabricated for overall water splitting. The Boroncarbide (B4C) power was filled and fixed in the NF interspace through the electroplating and electroless plating, and then annealed in vacuum high temperature. The amorphous B−C layer derived from the B4 C not only speeded up the electron transport, but also cooperate with Ni‐boride/phosphide to enhance the electrocatalytic activity for HER and OER synergistically. Furthermore, the hierarchical porous architecture of Ni3P/Ni3B/B−C/NF increased space utilization to load more active materials. The self‐supported Ni3P/Ni3B/B−C/NF electrode possessed a low overpotential of 212 and 280 mV to deliver 100 mA cm−2 for HER and OER, respectively, and high stability for 48 h. In particular, the electrolyzer constituted with the Ni3P/Ni3B/B−C/NF bifunctional electrocatalyst only required a voltage of 1.59 V at 50 mA cm−2 for water electrocatalysis under alkaline medium, and demonstrated long‐term stability for 48 h. This study provides a new technical path for the development of bifunctional of transition metal borides to promote the application of hydrogen production from water splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia borane (NH 3 BH 3) as a solid chemical hydrogen storage material with a high hydrogen content can be hydrolyzed under mild conditions to release hydrogen. In this work, Fe–Ni–B/Cu(OH) 2 –Cu foam was synthesized by combining in situ growth and electroless plating. Compared with the binary Fe–B/Cu(OH) 2 –Cu foam and Ni–B/Cu(OH) 2 –Cu foam prepared by the same method, the ternary Fe–Ni–B/Cu(OH) 2 –Cu foam has superior catalytic performance. The Fe–Ni–B/Cu(OH) 2 –Cu foam catalyst was able to achieve a maximum hydrogen production rate of 5.6 ml min−1 cm−2 at 298 K with an activation energy as low as 46.3 kJ mol−1. And more importantly, its catalytic efficiency has hardly decayed after ten cycles. These excellent properties are due to its low activation energy and the large specific surface, multi–site Cu(OH) 2 –Cu–foam carrier. [Display omitted] • Cu(OH) 2 nanowires were grown on the surface of Cu foam by in-situ oxidation. • Ni–Fe–B was supported on the Cu(OH) 2 –Cu foam by electroless deposition. • The HG rate of Fe–Ni–B/Cu(OH) 2 –Cu foam catalyst was 5.6 ml min−1 cm−2 at 298 K. • The activation energy of Fe–Ni–B/Cu(OH) 2 –Cu foam was as low as 46.3 kJ mol−1. • The Fe–Ni–B/Cu(OH) 2 –Cu foam catalyst has excellent cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we prepared electromagnetic cobalt-coated glass fiber (Co@GF) composites via an electroless plating method. Subsequently, a conductive sandwich flexible film consisting of Co@GF composites and liquid silicone rubber (RTV-2) was successfully formed using the tape casting method at room temperature. Based on the perfect coating and excellent electrical conductivity of the Co@GF composites, the resultant RTV-2/Co@GF/RTV-2 sandwich flexible film showed a low volume resistivity of 0.264 Ω·cm and could stretch to 100% (of 4.40 Ω·cm) without obvious fracture. When a magnetic field was applied during the curing process, the electromagnetic Co@GF composites were aligned automatically in the RTV-2 matrix because of their ferromagnetic nature. The as-prepared film exhibited anisotropy in its electrical performance. The volume resistivity parallel to the magnetic field direction is approximately two times lower than that in the perpendicular direction. The maximum difference in the volume resistivity (ρ∥ = 0.768 Ω·cm and ρ⊥ = 1.549 Ω·cm) was obtained at a magnetic field intensity of 800 mT. In addition, a magnetic field intensity of 100 mT helps improve the electrical conductivity of the as-obtained sandwich film. The anisotropic RTV-2/Co@GF/RTV-2 sandwich flexible film is considered a promising flexible electronic sensor, where discrepant inductive sensitivity is required in orthogonal directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of high-purity hydrogen from hydrogen storage materials with further direct use of generated hydrogen in fuel cells is still a relevant research field. For this purpose, nickel-molybdenum-plated copper catalysts (NiMo/Cu), comprising between 1 and 20 wt.% molybdenum, as catalytic materials for hydrogen generation, were prepared using a low-cost, straightforward electroless metal deposition method by using citrate plating baths containing Ni2+–Mo6+ ions as a metal source and morpholine borane as a reducing agent. The catalytic activity of the prepared NiMo/Cu catalysts toward alkaline sodium borohydride (NaBH4) hydrolysis increased with the increase in the content of molybdenum present in the catalysts. The hydrogen generation rate of 6.48 L min−1 gcat−1 was achieved by employing NiMo/Cu comprising 20 wt.% at a temperature of 343 K and a calculated activation energy of 60.49 kJ mol−1 with remarkable stability, retaining 94% of its initial catalytic activity for NaBH4 hydrolysis following the completion of the fifth cycle. The synergetic effect between nickel and molybdenum, in addition to the formation of solid-state solutions between metals, promoted the hydrogen generation reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to traditional lithium metal batteries, anode-free lithium metal batteries use bare current collectors as an anode instead of Li metal, making them highly promising for mass production and achieving high-energy density. The current collector, as the sole component of the anode, is crucial in lithium deposition-stripping behavior and greatly impacts the rate of Li depletion from the cathode. In this study, to investigate the lithiophilicity effect of the current collector on the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film construction and cycling performance of anode-free lithium batteries, various lightweight paper-based current collectors were prepared by electroless plating Cu and lipophilic Ag on low-dust paper (LDP). The areal densities of the as-prepared LDP@Cu, LDP@Cu-Ag, and LDP@Ag were approximately 0.33 mg cm−2. The use of lipophilic Ag-coated collectors with varying loadings allowed for the regulation of lipophilicity. The impacts of these collectors on the distribution of SEI components and Li depletion rate in common electrolytes were investigated. The findings suggest that higher loadings of lipophilic materials, such as Ag, on the current collector increase its lipophilicity but also lead to significant Li depletion during the cycling process in full-cell anode-free Li metal batteries. Thus, moderately lithiophilic current collectors, such as LDP@Cu-Ag, show more potential for Li deposition and striping and stable SEI with a low speed of Li depletion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroless Ni-P plating is an important process to enhance the corrosion and wear resistance of aluminum. However, due to the presence of an oxide layer on aluminum substrate, achieving a reliable Ni-P coating necessitates complex processes such as double zincate treatment or palladium immersion pretreatment. This study demonstrates that the copper immersion layer on an aluminum substrate can initiate the electroless Ni-P plating process. The copper immersion layer is deposited on the aluminum substrate through a convenient galvanic replacement reaction using an alkaline aqueous solution of copper sulfate and ammonia. This copper immersion layer can form a galvanic cell with the aluminum substrate, thereby initiating electroless Ni-P plating, similar to initiate electroless Ni-P plating by contact activation. It is confirmed that activation ability of the copper immersion layer is comparable to that of a palladium immersion layer by comparing the morphology, structure, deposition kinetics, and performance of Ni-P coatings obtained on copper and palladium immersion layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Titanium carbide (TiC) powder was synthesized by the magnesiothermic combustion of the TiO2-rich alteration product leucoxene and activated carbon (AC) in argon. Leucoxene and C were combined at a molar ratio of 1.0 : 1.5, and the effect of magnesium (Mg) fuel in the reaction system was studied at ratios of 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0. XRD analysis showed that the as-leached powder from a reactant mixture with a Mg molar ratio of 3.0 has fewer unwanted phases, and that leucoxene, C, Mg mixed at 1.0 : 1.5 : 3.0 produce TiC powder of a higher purity than the other reacted mixtures. The higher purity of the product was due to the more exothermic character of the combustion reaction, which had a higher enthalpy of reaction (ΔH) and adiabatic temperature (Tad). SEM observation of the as-leached powder revealed agglomerated fine particles of sub-micrometer size. The TiC powder was successfully coated with nickel by an electroless plating process. SEM/EDX demonstrated that the Ni-coated TiC powder consists of Ni particles smaller than 500 nm, which are well distributed on TiC particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of process parameters on the electroless plating of ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMCs) were studied in this work. Specifically, the NaBH4 reduction of platinum onto Nafion-117 was characterised. The effects of the concurrent variation of NaBH4 concentration, stir time and temperature on surface resistance were studied through a full factorial design. The three-factor three-level factorial design resulted in 27 runs. Surface resistance was measured using a four-point probe. A regression model with an R2 value of 97.45% was obtained. Surface resistance was found to decrease with increasing stir time (20 to 60 min) and temperature (20 to 60 °C). These responses were attributed to increased platinisation rates, resulting in more uniform electrode deposition, confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDAX) analysis. Surface resistance decreased, going from 1% to 5% NaBH4 concentration, but increased from 5% to 10% concentration. This behaviour was attributed to surface morphology: increased grain size inducing porous electrodes, in line with findings in the literature. The maximum tip displacement, measured through a computer vision system, as well as the maximum blocking force, measured through an analytical balance setup, were obtained for all 27 samples. The varying results were discussed with regards to surface and cross-sectional SEMs, alongside EDAX analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface metallization remains a promising approach for combining the unique properties of plastics and metals. To enhance the interfacial bonding of Ag/Cu coating on ABS substrate, a promising method combining chemical etching and self-assembly modification was proposed. The results showed that the adhesion strength of the Ag/Cu coating on ABS substrate was significantly improved to 6.71 N/cm. KMnO4 etching increased the –OH functional groups on the surface of ABS substrate, resulting in improved hydrophilicity. Specifically, the contact angle of distilled water decreased from 80.5° to 12.5° after 60 minutes of KMnO4 etching. The thiosilyl group of silane coupling agents hydrolyzed and condensed with –OH on the ABS surface, while the –SH end of silane coupling agents coupled with the silver film to form an S-Ag bond during the spray electroless plating process. This bond acts as a bridge between the substrate and the coating, thereby enhancing the adhesion strength of the coating. This study provides important theoretical and technical insights for the surface metallization of plastic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new high efficient and non-destructive mental activation process of electroless composite plating was proposed. The process utilized electromagnetic induction equipment to heat the titanium alloy substrate and used its energy to complete the activation process, which could successfully attach the nickel nanoparticles firmly to the surface of the titanium alloy; at the same time, the process pre-activated Al2O3 nanoparticles and added the activated nanoparticles to the plating solution. In the process of plating, the activated titanium substrate was used as the catalytic center of electroless nickel plating (ENP) for electroless composite plating. The new activation process avoided complicated traditional processes such as acid etching and zinc dipping. Such traditional processes require huge doses of chemicals, including various strong acids, so improper waste liquid treatment will cause harm to the environment. The important parameters of the process were optimized by orthogonal experiments. A scanning electron microscope (SEM), an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), an energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS), thermal shock experiments and friction and wear experiments were used to characterize and analyze the surface morphology, composition, binding force and friction coefficient of the coating, and analyze the coating quality by measuring the plating rate and the thickness of the coating. The results showed that the rate of electroless composite plating increased with the increase in Al2O3 nanoparticle concentration. When the concentration of Al2O3 nanoparticles reached 1.5 g/L, the ENP rate decreased with the increase in Al2O3 nanoparticle concentration. The adhesion of the sample was evaluated by the scratch test, which showed that the binding grade of the sample was 0, and the Vickers hardness was 688.5 HV. Results showed that the coating produced by this new process has excellent performance. Therefore, the process is an environmentally friendly and fast activation composite plating process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper plating on graphite surfaces is employed as an effective strategy to enhance the wettability between Cu and graphite, which is otherwise inadequate. To achieve a uniformly coated Cu layer on graphite surfaces, this study utilized rotational electroless plating. Subsequently, the effects of CuSO4 ⋅ 5H2O concentrations (10, 15, 20, and 25 g/L) and reaction solution temperatures (30, 40, 50, and 60 °C) on the uniformity and density of the Cu coating on the graphite surface were investigated. The findings reveal that variations in the concentration of the CuSO4 ⋅ 5H2O have a limited impact on the uniformity and densification of the Cu coating. Specifically, as the concentration of CuSO4 ⋅ 5H2O increases from 10 g/L to 25 g/L, there is a slight decrease in the uniformity and integrity of the Cu coating, with the density of Cu‐coated graphite powder decreasing marginally from 3.646 g/cm3 to 6.642 g/cm3. In contrast, the temperature of the reaction solution has a significant effect on the uniformity and densification of the Cu coating. With an increase in the reaction solution temperature from 30 °C to 60 °C, there is a noticeable deterioration in the uniformity and integrity of the Cu coating, with a decrease in the density of Cu‐coated graphite powder from 3.653 g/cm3 to 6.620 g/cm3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-based membranes have emerged as a promising solution, providing selective permeability and impressive durability. However, a comprehensive understanding of their environmental performance across their entire life cycle remains elusive. This research offers a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) of electroless plated palladium alloy-based membranes for hydrogen separation. It evaluates the environmental impacts across various stages, from the synthesis of supports to the application of intermediate and selective layers. Key findings include the identification of alumina supports and graphite intermediate layers as having minimal environmental impacts, and the Pd–Cu membrane as the most sustainable choice among palladium alloy membranes. This research advances our understanding of the eco-friendly performance of palladium based H 2 separation membranes, guiding the development of more sustainable hydrogen separation technologies. [Display omitted] • Environmental comparison of support, intermediate, and selective layers in metal-based H 2 separation membranes. • Use of the Electroless Plating method. • Alumina supports have the least environmental impact. • Graphite layers offer the lowest comprehensive environmental effects across various categories for the intermediate layers. • Pd–Cu membrane is the most sustainable choice in Pd alloy membranes due to its minimal environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work looks at the effects of a varying concentration, soak time, pH and temperature on the sorption of tetraammineplatinum(II) chloride (Pt-Ammine) in Nafion-117 films in the context of the electroless plating of ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMCs). Sorption is characterised by atomic absorption spectroscopy. A definitive screening design carried out determined all four factors to be significant for further analysis using response surface modelling. A duplicated central composite design (CCD) was utilised to characterise how the four factors affect the sorption amount and efficiency. Regression models for both responses were of poor fit. Nevertheless, key insights were obtained on the effects of the process parameters on sorption behaviour. The results indicate that above 0.5 g/L Pt-Ammine sorption, the platinisation of 10 × 50 mm IPMC samples through sodium borohydride reduction becomes redundant by the surface resistance metric. IPMCs with surface resistance values of approximately 2.5 Ω/square were obtained through only one round of chemical reduction. Varying surface morphologies and electrode thicknesses were analysed under a scanning electron microscope. The CCD parameter settings were validated. Recommended settings for optimised Pt-Ammine sorption in 10 × 50 mm Nafion-117 films were identified as follows: 1.0 g/L Pt-Ammine concentration, 24 h soak time, pH of 3 and temperature of 20 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi‐additive process (SAP) is a pivotal technique for fabricating integrated circuit (IC) packaging substrates, achieving fine line/space resolution below 20 μm. The adhesion strength between the epoxy composite dielectric layer and electroplated copper is critical for ensuring the long‐term service reliability of high‐performance substrates. Herein, an epoxy composite film suitable for SAP is deposited with copper layer via electroless plating followed by electroplating. The effects of lamination and pre‐curing temperatures in SAP on the butter layer thickness, desmear weight, surface roughness (Ra), and adhesion strength of the plated copper are systematically investigated. The desmear weight decreases with the rising of lamination temperature attributed to the increased butter layer thickness. The lamination temperature is demonstrated to be one of the most influential factors in determining the adhesion strength between the plated copper and the epoxy composite. A high and stable peel strength exceeding 6.0 N cm−1 is achieved under the circumstance of a low Ra of merely 0.95 μm, indicating significant potential for these epoxy composite films in the fabrication of fine‐line and high‐density packaging substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesizing high performance and affordable nickel-based electrocatalysts has been one of the research hotspots in the field of clean energy conversion. Herein, facile electroless plating accompanied with mild impregnation method is explored to synthesize petal-like Ni(OH) 2 flakes on carbon cloth (CC) for electrocatalytic alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Notably, the optimal Ni(OH) 2 /CC electrode has outstanding HER activity requiring only 24.6 mV vs. RHE of overpotential to reach 25 mA cm−2 of current density, and only 101.5 mV vs. RHE of overpotential to reach 100 mA cm−2. Meanwhile, the 25-h stability test results performed well. This is primarily due to its plentiful interfacial contact, favorable surface morphology of ultrathin and dense nanosheets array, and rapid electron transport. Overall, this study provides a viable approach for the development of efficient, low-cost, hydrophilic nickel-based catalysts for electrocatalytic water splitting applications. [Display omitted] • Ni(OH) 2 /CC electrode is prepared by electroless plating coupled with impregnation. • Hydrophilic dense nanosheets array of Ni(OH) 2 is obtained under mild conditions. • Ni(OH) 2 /CC requires only 24.6 mV vs. RHE overpotential to reach 25 mA cm−2. • Ni(OH) 2 /CC requires only 101.5 mV vs. RHE overpotential to reach 100 mA cm−2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum alloy bipolar plates have the merits of lightweight, favorable cold processing performance and low price, which have an extensive application prospect in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). To enhance the corrosion resistance and conductivity of aluminum alloy bipolar plates, a multilayer Ni–P/Cr/CrMoAlN coating was prepared on aluminum alloy 5052 (AA5052) using electroless plating and closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering ion plating (CFUMSIP) techniques. The research findings indicate that the outermost layer of the multilayer Ni–P/Cr/CrMoAlN coating is mainly composed of CrN, Mo2N, and AlN phases. Electrochemical and interfacial contact resistance (ICR) tests reveal that the Ni–P/Cr/CrMoAlN coating has the lowest current density (7.37 × 10−7 A cm−2) in potentiostatic polarization test and the smallest ICR (2.36 mΩ cm2). Therefore, the Ni–P/Cr/CrMoAlN coating can remarkably improve the performance of aluminum alloy bipolar plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating the output of emitters and calibrating detectors using absolute power sensors is critical for public use. In free-space thermal power sensors, the measurement accuracy and sensitivity depend on the absorption characteristics of the absorber, and the response time relates to its intrinsic thermal time constant. A response time of a few seconds is useful in practical scenarios where factors such as power variations caused by changes in the current–voltage characteristics of the emitter are monitored. At the minimum, an intrinsic thermal time constant of a few tens of second is required to achieve a few-second measurement time because the actual time can be enhanced by the control method of the sensors. However, in the sub-terahertz region, conventional broadband absorbers must be adequately thick for high absorption, increasing thermal capacity. Thus, achieving high absorption and a good thermal response remains challenging. In this study, an absorber featuring a resin-hollow pyramidal structure covered with a metal film thinner than the skin depth was devised. To realize the proposed absorber, we used resin 3D printing and Ni–P electroless plating. A comparison with conventional absorbers demonstrated that the thermal time constant was comparable to that of a planar absorber, known for its suitable response but low absorption below 1 THz, while maintaining over 98.6% absorptance in the 0.1- to 0.3-THz range. These results can aid in the construction of a sub-terahertz power sensor with high accuracy, high sensitivity, and a few-second response time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction is a promising approach to remove harmful nitrate and produce ammonia in aqueous media. Here, we demonstrate how 3D printed polymer electrodes can be electroless plated with a bimetallic NiCu alloy film suitable for sustained nitrate‐to‐ammonia reduction. Characterization by powder X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning/transmission electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy indicate that the electrode has a two‐layer structure consisting of polymer/ coating layer of metal alloys. The composite electrode shows high‐performance in the nitrate‐to‐ammonia electroreduction, giving NH3 Faradaic efficiencies of up to 83 % and NH3 yield rates up to 860 μg/(h cm2) at −0.38 V vs. RHE. We show that the electrode can easily be integrated into a Zn‐nitrate battery, giving a power density of 3.8 mW cm−2 with continuous NH3 production. The system combines three productive outputs, that is removal of nitrate pollutants, synthesis of valuable ammonia and generation of "green" electricity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the surface morphology of polystyrene (PS) thin films, which were crafted by drying a cast emulsion layer on a microscope glass slide. A water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion was previously formulated by dispersing a small quantity of water (or an aqueous solution) into a chloroform–PS solution containing a dissolved emulsifier (surfactant). The resultant emulsion was spin-coated onto the glass slide. Subsequently, the type and dosage of surfactant utilized played a critical role in incubating the pattern formation during solvent evaporation. Mechanistically, the surface patterns resulted from a collaborative interplay of drying-induced droplet migration/partial coagulation and surface enrichment of surfactants. Span-80 induces a collection of bowl-shaped holes with a diameter of approximately 1 µm, while AOT induces an M-shaped geometrical pattern. The holes on PS film act as a microreactor to carry out the crystallization of acrylamide, as well as the growth of Ni-P alloy dendrites by electroless plating means. Alternatively, the dispersed aqueous droplet of the emulsion was utilized to conduct in situ reduction to grow copper nanoparticles. It is also noteworthy that the patterned PS films achieved exhibit diverse glass transition behaviors, attributed to the unique interaction of surfactant and PS chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports on the use of supercritical CO2 (scCO2) for the metallization of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) filaments, which are used as functional components in weavable devices. UHMW-PE is well known for its chemical and impact resistance, making it suitable for use in bulletproof clothing and shields. However, its chemical resistance poses a challenge for metallization. By utilizing scCO2 as the solvent in the catalyzation process, a uniform and defect-free layer of Ni-P is successfully deposited on the UHMW-PE filaments. The deposition rate of Ni-P is enhanced at higher temperatures during the scCO2 catalyzation. Importantly, the durability of the Ni-P-metalized UHMW-PE filaments is improved when the scCO2 catalyzation is carried out at 120 °C, as evidenced by minimal changes in electrical resistivity after a rolling test.

In order to improve the surface quality and properties of nickel-phosphorus(Ni-P) coatings, a small quantity of copper sulfate(CuSO4·5H2O) was added to the electroless Ni-P plating solution to prepare Ni-P coatings. The surface morphology, composition and structure of the coatings were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometer. The effects of CuSO4·5H2O concentration on the microstructure, surface roughness, glossiness, hardness, wear resistance and corrosion resistance of the coatings were investigated. Results showed that when the concentration of CuSO4·5H2O was 0.1 g/L, the coating exhibited a dense, amorphous nodular structure with the best corrosion resistance. At a concentration of 0.2 g/L, the coating had the best surface quality, high hardness and excellent wear resistance, but a small amount of microcrystalline Ni-Cu solid solution appeared in the coating, leading to decreased corrosion resistance. When the concentration of CuSO4·5H2O exceeded 0.2 g/L, the coating formed a mixed crystalline cauliflower-like structure, and both the surface quality and corrosion resistance of the coating deteriorated with increasing CuSO4·5H2O concentration.

Polyacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene(ABS) is a widely used engineering plastic. In this study, the surface of the ABS substrate was modified by combining green UV irradiation surface modification technology with chitosan grafting technology. The effects of ultraviolet irradiation conditions, concentration of chitosan acetate solution, modification temperature and modification time on the ABS substrate surface morphology, roughness, hydrophilicity and chemical properties were investigated. Firstly, the ABS was irradiated at 300 W for 30 min by using 2 g/L titanium dioxide(TiO2) as a photocatalyst, and then it was modified with a 0.75 g/L chitosan acetic acid solution at 70 ℃ for 30 min. The surface morphology change of the ABS substrate was observed using scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and atomic force microscopy(AFM), and the hydrophilicity change of the ABS substrates surface was analyzed using a surface contact angle measuring instrument and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS). Results showed that after UV irradiation and chitosan grafting modification, the ABS substrate surface developed a small number of tiny holes, exhibited low surface roughness, and displayed a significant increase in the concentration of hydrophilic groups. Consequently, the surface hydrophilicity was significantly enhanced. Furthermore, the electroless copper plating layer appeared smooth, with a pink color and metallic luster.

Electroless Ni/P coating was obtained on the carbon-material substrate of graphite blocks and woven carbon fibers through a new plating solution, and three different temperatures and pH values were respectively adopted during the deposition process. The lactic acid presented an excellent stability capability, and the coatings with compact structure and appropriate P content could be generated under 343 K and pH 4.0, the reaction activation energy of which was around 110 kJ/mol. The coating with amorphous structure was more active than the metallic Ni with crystalline structure to react with Al, and the bonding interface between Ni/P-coating and Al-matrix was composed of two layers of single-phase structure, namely Al3Ni and Al3Ni2. The preferred reaction product in the solid-solid compositing process was Al3Ni, and then Al3Ni2 was formed between the Ni layer and Al3Ni layer because of the accumulation of Ni atoms. While, the preferred reaction product in the solid-liquid compositing process was Al3Ni2, and Al3Ni phase was proved by the pulsed magnet field to be generated during the subsequent solidification process.

The current industrial revolution derives much of its momentum from value creation based on interconnected products and related data based services. Such products must fulfill both mechanical and electrical requirements, making them mechatronic systems. The production of such systems via additive manufacturing (AM) processes offers advantages in achievable complexity, reduction of the amount of individual components, and cost‐effective as well as sustaina ble production of small quantities. In this work, a process chain is presented that allows for refining additively manufactured 3D structures made from industry‐standard materials into mechatronic components by creating electrically conductive structures directly on their surfaces. The process chain is based on masking the component's surface and selectively removing the masking according to the circuit geometry using laser radiation. In a wet–chemical bath process, the surface is then exposed to palladium nuclei, the masking is fully removed and metal layers (copper/nickel/gold) are deposited by electroless plating. The procedure is developed using stereolithography as a model process for AM and transferred to four additional AM methods. In all cases, despite markedly different surface properties, good selectivity of metal deposition is observed as well as adhesion strength and conductivity comparable to industrially common injection‐molded laser direct structured mechatronic interconnect devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports the fabrication result of a Ka-band waveguide for a low Earth orbit satellites using 3D printing and subsequent polymer metal coating. Electroless plating followed by electroplating proved effective in improving mechanical and adhesive characteristics. Both careful modification of the waveguide model and adjustment of the thickness of the Cu electroplating layer mitigated bowing issues during post-curing. The final Ka-band evaluation (26.5–30 GHz) showed an average S21 value of approximately 5.25 dB. Despite losses at the flange input and outlet, these results indicate the feasibility of the applied fabrication method for the use of Ka-band waveguides. Unlike existing studies focusing on Ku-band, this research emphasizes the challenging waveguide model for Ka-band, offering insights into SLA printing, post-curing methods, and metal coating on photopolymer surfaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon interposers embedded with ultra-deep through-silicon vias (TSVs) are in great demand for the heterogeneous integration and packaging of opto-electronic chiplets and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) devices. Considering the cost-effective and reliable manufacturing of ultra-deep TSVs, the formation of continuous barrier and seed layers remains a crucial challenge to solve. Herein, we present a novel dual catalysis-based electroless plating (ELP) technique by tailoring polyimide (PI) liner surfaces to fabricate dense combined Ni barrier/seed layers in ultra-deep TSVs. In additional to the conventional acid catalysis procedure, a prior catalytic step in an alkaline environment is proposed to hydrolyze the PI surface into a polyamide acid (PAA) interfacial layer, resulting in additional catalysts and the formation of a dense Ni layer that can function as both a barrier layer and a seed layer, particularly at the bottom of the deep TSV. TSVs with depths larger than 500 μm and no voids are successfully fabricated in this study. The fabrication process involves low costs and temperatures. For a fabricated 530-μm-deep TSV with a diameter of 70 μm, the measured depletion capacitance and leakage current are approximately 1.3 pF and 1.7 pA at 20 V, respectively, indicating good electrical properties. The proposed fabrication strategy can provide a cost-effective and feasible solution to the challenge of manufacturing ultra-deep TSVs for modern 3D heterogeneous integration and packaging applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anode‐free potassium (K) metal batteries are promising candidates in high‐energy‐density batteries. Nevertheless, the notorious potassium dendrite growth and poor K plating/stripping efficiency originating from the potassiophobicity of conventional Cu current collectors impede their practical applications. Herein, by means of systematically multi‐scale theoretical simulations, the correlations among K deposition morphology, nucleation sites, and potassiophilicity of mediation layers are well illuminated from thermodynamics and dynamics perspectives. As a proof of concept, a potassiophilic alloy Cu6Sn5 layer is constructed on commercial Cu foils via a facile electroless plating approach. The designed Cu6Sn5@Cu can guide the homogeneous distribution of K+ flux and regulate the electronic field, promoting uniform K+ plating and stripping. Meanwhile, a KF‐rich solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer with high mechanical strength is electrochemically induced and formed, facilitating the transport of K+ through SEI and enhancing the stability of SEI. Consequently, Cu6Sn5@Cu delivers great performance with durable stability of up to 600 h (1 mA cm−2 and 1 mAh cm−2) in no‐reservoir half‐cells. Benefiting from the unique mediation layer design, a novel anode‐free K‐metal full‐cell prototype demonstrates ameliorative cyclic stability. This work advances a fundamental understanding and establishes the bridge between the potassium deposition morphology and mediation layer properties for anode‐free potassium‐metal batteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lightweight designs of automobiles and space shuttles have raised the bar for aluminum (Al) and its alloys. Graphene (GP) has found widespread application in aluminum matrix composites due to its exceptional mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties. In this study, a successful preparation of 6061Al reinforced with GP was achieved through a powder metallurgy method. This involved mixing GP with 6061Al alloy powders via ball milling, followed by hot-pressing sintering to produce the final GP-reinforced Al alloy nanocomposite. The effect of the pH value of the plating solution on the electroless plating of GP has been studied for the first time. The results show that the strength of the aluminum-matrix composites with copper plating has been significantly improved compared with that of the composites without copper plating. When the pH value of the plating solution is 12, the tensile strength of the composites obtained has been increased by 60.41%. Compared with the matrix material, the conductivity of the composite material has also increased. This work shows that the mechanical behavior of graphene-reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs) can be improved by adjusting the distribution of graphene coatings, which is of great benefit for the preparation of high strength and lightweight composites with good electrical conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, flexible and highly conductive composite rubber at low filler content was successfully prepared through polydopamine-assisted electroless silver plating plus mechanical mixing. Firstly, carbon fibers (CF) were activated by polydopamine (PDA) to improve the surface activity by self-polymerization reaction. Next, because of the metal chelating ability of PDA, silver layer was firmly deposited on the surface of CF through a facile electroless silver plating method. Finally, flexible silver-plated carbon fibers (Ag/pCF) silicone rubber composites prepared by mechanical mixing. By using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), the chemical composition and crystal structure of Ag/pCF were examined, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess the surface morphology of the Ag/pCF. The results showed that a uniform and dense silver layer was formed on the surface of the CF, and the conductivity of the Ag/pCF could reach 7885 S/cm. It was noteworthy that the composite rubber filled with only 45 phr Ag/pCF had a high electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (100 dB) due to the low density and high aspect ratio of Ag/pCF. The composite rubber has excellent potential for application in the field of electromagnetic interference shielding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic electroless plating on insulating substrate holds great potential in additive manufacturing of printing circuits. A tri-layer interpenetration architecture was constructed to improve the peeling strength of Cu plating layer. The corona-treated PET was coated by epoxy resin, which served as ground floor for the rooting of Cu NWs. Benefiting from high aspect ratio, the ends of Cu NWs were exposed to surface. Which assembled into middle layer, forming 3D Cu NWs catalytic arrays. Along with Cu electroless plating, the catalytic arrays were gradually filled up and covered by the top layer of Cu plating. Both epoxy resin layer and Cu plating layer were deeply rooted by Cu NWs, which afforded the Cu plating layer with 5B adhesion, an increase of 86% compared to that of Cu MSs catalyst. Through investigating the subsidence behavior of Cu NWs in epoxy resin adhesive layer, the strengthen mechanism of peeling strength of Cu plating layer has been validated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports on the use of supercritical CO2 (scCO2) for the metallization of ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) filaments, which are used as functional components in weavable devices. UHMW-PE is well known for its chemical and impact resistance, making it suitable for use in bulletproof clothing and shields. However, its chemical resistance poses a challenge for metallization. By utilizing scCO2 as the solvent in the catalyzation process, a uniform and defect-free layer of Ni-P is successfully deposited on the UHMW-PE filaments. The deposition rate of Ni-P is enhanced at higher temperatures during the scCO2 catalyzation. Importantly, the durability of the Ni-P-metalized UHMW-PE filaments is improved when the scCO2 catalyzation is carried out at 120 °C, as evidenced by minimal changes in electrical resistivity after a rolling test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the low hydrophobicity and separation efficiency of original electrospun carbon nanofiber (CF) membrane greatly limit its further application in the oil–water separation process. To address this problem, polydopamine (PDA) was coated on the surface of CF via dip-coating method, playing a role of chelation and reduction in the process of electroless plating, so as to deposit copper nanoparticles on the surface of nanofiber. Subsequently, 1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane was used for fluorination treatment to successfully obtain superhydrophobic electrospun carbon nanofiber (F/Cu/PDA/CF) membrane. The results show that F/Cu/PDA/CF membrane has good water contact angle (WCA, 158.5°) and excellent separation performance. The separation efficiency of oil–water mixture and emulsion is greater than 99.4%. Furthermore, the F/Cu/PDA/CF membrane demonstrates good environmental stability under different conditions (high/low temperature, UV irradiation, and immersion in organic solvents). These results indicate that superhydrophobic F/Cu/PDA/CF membrane has great application potential in the treatment of oily wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of additives on the deposition rate, surface morphology, Ni and P elemental content of the electroless plating layer, and roughness of the electroless plating Ni-P layer were investigated. In an electroless plating Ni-P system, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt (EDTA-2Na) and sodium hypophosphite monohydrate were used as the complexing agent and reductant, respectively. The linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) polarization curve results showed that the compound addition of 1.0 mg L−1 L-tyrosine, 2.0 g L−1 saccharin, and 6.0 mg L−1 sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) could inhibit sodium hypophosphite oxidation and nickel ion reduction, which eventually reduced the Ni-P deposition rate. The Tafel polarization curves indicated that the compound additives obviously improved the corrosion resistance of the Ni-P electroless plating layer. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the composite additives generated fine and uniform Ni-P electroless plating particles and enhanced the density, eliminated the surface cracks, and reduced the pinholes on the electroless plating layer surface. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) tests showed that the addition of complex additives improved the smoothness of the plated layer, the Ra value was reduced from 135.0 nm to 53.2 nm, and the Rq value was reduced from 164.0 nm to 93.0 nm. The final composition and implementation conditions of the EDTA-2Na-based Ni-P electroless plating system were determined. The deposition rate was 10.44 μm h−1, the P content of the electroless plating layer was 2.2%, and the electroless plating player was silver-white and bright. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A preparation method of electroless copper electrodes based on elastic nylon fabric for ECG monitoring is proposed to meet the key needs of monitoring accuracy and wearing comfort in this paper. There were 72 rectangular nylon fabric samples involved in the experiment, and three key variables were introduced during the electrode preparation experiment, copper plating time, temperature, pre-stretching, where pre-stretching considered both warp and weft direction. The resistance of 72 samples at 30% stretch state was measured, SEM was used to characterize the copper plated fabric and copper plated fabric ECG electrodes were prepared and evaluated. According to the resistance statistics, the introduction of pre-stretching in the weft direction can bring better copper plating effects, and one sample (which was marked as D20/weft-1) showed the best electrical conductivity in the groups. Combined with SEM images, they all proved the success of copper plating on nylon fabric and that relatively low temperature and appropriate time are beneficial to copper plating. Simultaneously SEM inspection of MΩ-level high-resistance samples revealed that some of the copper plated particles were incompletely covered or peeled off. Finally, evaluating ECG waveforms and signal-to-noise ratios using fabric electrodes in natural and chest expansion state. Results showed that the fabric electrodes prepared from sample D20/weft-1 with excellent conductivity almost have the same performance as traditional Ag/AgCl electrodes. This study provides a cost-effective method and low-cost alternative for electrodes to record high-quality ECG both at home and in the clinic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the effects of temperature on the properties of silver-plated nickel powder during its preparation, replacement electroless plating and reduction electroless plating were used to prepare silver-plated nickel powder with silver nitrate as the source of silver and Ni particles as the matrix material. The conductive coating was prepared with powder as filler and unsaturated polyester resin as matrix, and its conductivity and electromagnetic shielding were tested and analyzed. The micro-morphology and macro-characteristics of silver-plated nickel powders were characterized and analyzed by scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer, X-ray diffractometer, apparent density tester, tap density tester, DC Milliohm Meter, respectively. Results show that the Ag coating of the prepared silver-plated nickel powder was complete, uniform and compact when the electroless plating temperature is 40 ℃, and the silver content reach ed 75. 01%, and its compaction resistance reached the value 293. 15 mΩ. The apparent density and tap density of the powder were 5. 417 g·cm-3 and 5. 778 g·cm-3, respectively. The obtained coating composite had the resistivity 4. 30mΩ·cmand the electromagnetic shielding effectiveness 45. 27 dB, which showed the good electromagnetic shielding performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is difficult to assess the temperature and pressure resistance of the existing soluble bridge plug seal ring used in fracking for shale gas reservoirs, to go with its high plasticity and good solubility. To overcome this shortcoming, aluminium matrix composites with the addition of 0%, 0.5% and 1.0% of graphene were prepared by spark plasma sintering. Uniaxial static pressure test results show that the composite has the maximum compressive strength and compression ratio when the graphene content is 0.5%. Microporous copper coatings were prepared on graphene/1070 aluminium surface by electroless plating. The synergistic effect of the surface microporous copper coating and the internal graphene on the corrosion performance of 1070 aluminium alloy was analysed by the weight loss and electrochemical methods. The results showed that the surface microporous copper coatings could significantly improve the uniform corrosion rate and pitting depth of graphene/1070 aluminium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aims to meet Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)-12 sustainable consumption and production for electroless copper deposition. The study involves replacement of non-biodegradable chemicals with biodegradable materials. The present work utilises biodegradable D-Mannitol and eco-friendly copper methane sulphonate salt. The bath was stabilised with 2, 2′-dipyridyl and cetrimide. Gravimetric analysis and electrochemical studies viz. anodic polarisation, Tafel polarisation, cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy were carried out. Deposit morphology and structure were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). 2,2′-dipyridyl and cetrimide were found to reduce the speed of chemical reduction of copper (II) to copper which helps to improve the stability of the bath at higher pH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing demand for conductive fibers with high bending resistance, particularly for applications, such as smart textiles and robot arms. The amount of fiber for such applications can be reduced using high-performance fibers with high tensile properties, such as polyaramid and polyarylate Vectran®). However, because such fibers are crystalline with rigid molecular structures, they poorly adhere to plated films; thus, the plated fibers exhibit poor bending fatigue resistance. To solve this problem, in this study, we expanded polyarylate fiber using supercritical CO2 (ScCO2) and impregnated it with a metal complex (palladium acetate), which acts as a catalyst for electroless plating to induce an anchoring effect. However, because polyarylate fiber has an extremely low polarity, it is difficult to uniformly impregnate it with many metal complexes, even with ScCO2. Generally, an organic solvent is added to tune the polarity of supercritical CO2; however, the metal complex penetrates the fiber, thereby reducing the amount of metal complex near the fiber surface. Therefore, we tuned the polarity of the surface by applying various oils to the fiber surface. The sample electroplated in ScCO2 with oil applied to its surface showed the highest bending fatigue resistance, followed by that treated in ScCO2 without oil, and the sample treated in an aqueous solution showed the lowest. Furthermore, we measured the interfacial adhesion strength of the samples using the microdroplet method, and the same trend was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction is a promising approach to remove harmful nitrate and produce ammonia in aqueous media. Here, we demonstrate how 3D printed polymer electrodes can be electroless plated with a bimetallic NiCu alloy film suitable for sustained nitrate‐to‐ammonia reduction. Characterization by powder X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning/transmission electron microscopy and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy indicate that the electrode has a two‐layer structure consisting of polymer/ coating layer of metal alloys. The composite electrode shows high‐performance in the nitrate‐to‐ammonia electroreduction, giving NH3 Faradaic efficiencies of up to 83 % and NH3 yield rates up to 860 μg/(h cm2) at −0.38 V vs. RHE. We show that the electrode can easily be integrated into a Zn‐nitrate battery, giving a power density of 3.8 mW cm−2 with continuous NH3 production. The system combines three productive outputs, that is removal of nitrate pollutants, synthesis of valuable ammonia and generation of “green” electricity.

The design of low-price and flexible hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrode has attracted much attention on efficient utilization of sustainable hydrogen energy. Herein, we reported a facile fabrication of flexible HER electrode by anchoring CoP electrocatalyst on polyester (PET) textiles. Conductive nickel cloth (NC-PET) substrate was firstly obtained by sequentially electroless plating and electroplating of metallic Ni on textile fibers. The amorphous CoP catalyst was then assembled on the NC-PET substrate by controlled electrodeposition to obtain flexible HER electrode (CoP-NC/PET). The flexible CoP-NC/PET showed a low overpotential of 63 mV at 10 mA cm−2 for HER, with a Tafel slope of 48.09 mV dec−1 in 1 M KOH solution. The faradaic efficiency of CoP-NC/PET measured at 100 mA cm−2 current density was estimated to be nearly 100%. No significant loss of HER catalytic activity was observed after 2000 cycles and 1000 times folding operations, demonstrating the high flexibility and stability of the present CoP-NC/PET electrode. [Display omitted] • HER electrode was facilely fabricated by anchoring CoP on textiles. • Amorphous CoP electrocatalyst was obtained by electrodeposition. • Exhibited excellent HER activity and flexibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A matrix-type bismuth-moderated copper-sulfur electrode Bi-NiBx@CFS was prepared in-situ by mild electroless plating for efficient hydrogen production in alkaline seawater. The electrode possesses a "photothermal effect" equivalent to increasing the temperature of conventional electrolyte solution to 48 °C at the same conditions, and works stably for 150h without any performance degradation at industrial-grade current density. [Display omitted] • A highly active and stable catalytic electrode Bi-NiBx@CFS applied to electrolysis of alkaline seawater can be constructed by simple electroless plating. • The "photothermal effect" of the doped Bi materials with good photothermal properties achieves about 10 % improvement in the performance of the catalytic electrode at a current density of 10 mA cm−2. • The in-situ etched and firmly grown materials are suitable for industrialized large-scale applications, and Bi-NiBx@CFS exhibits corrosion resistance and durable for 150 h at industrial-grade current density in 1.0 M KOH + 0.5 M NaCl. Constructing catalytic electrodes with green economy, stability, and high efficiency is crucial for achieving overall economic water splitting. Herein, a matrix-type bismuth-modulated nickel-boron electrodes loaded on sulfurized copper foils (Bi–NiB x @CFS) is synthesized via in situ mild electroless plating. This electrode features a 2-dimensional (2D) matrix-type nanosheet structure with uniform, large pores, providing more active sites and ensuring a high gas transmission rate. Notably, the crystalline–amorphous structure constituted by the photothermal materials Bi and NiB x is loaded onto sulfide-based heterostructures. This enhances the catalytic activity through the "local photothermal effect" strategy. A performance enhancement of approximately 10 % is achieved for the Bi–NiB x @CFS at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 using this strategy at 298 K. This enhancement is equivalent to increasing the temperature of conventional electrolyte solutions by 321 K. In addition, the overpotential required to catalytically drive seawater splitting at the same current density is only 1.486 V. The Bi–NiB x @CFS electrode operates stably for 200 h without any performance degradation at industrial-grade current densities. The Bi–NiB x @CFS electrode under the "localized photothermal effect" strategy is expected to be a new type of electrocatalyst for overall seawater splitting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper metal catalyst seeds have recently triggered much research interest for the development of low-cost and high-performance metallic catalysts with industrial applications. Herein, we present metallic Cu catalyst seeds deposited by an atomic layer deposition method on polymer substrates. The atomic layer deposited Cu (ALD-Cu) can ideally substitute noble metals Ag, Au, and Pd to catalyze Cu electroless deposition. The optimized deposition temperature and growth cycles of an ALD-Cu catalyzed seed layer have been obtained to achieve a flexible printed circuit (FPC) with a high performance electroless plating deposited Cu (ELD-Cu) film. The ELD-Cu films on the ALD-Cu catalyst seeds grown display a uniform and dense deposition with a low resistivity of 1.74 μΩ·cm, even in the through via and trench of substates. Furthermore, the ALD-Cu-catalyzed ELD-Cu circuits and LED devices fabricated on treated PI also demonstrate excellent conductive and mechanical features. The remarkable conductive and mechanical characteristics of the ALD-Cu seed catalyzed ELD-Cu process demonstrate its tremendous potential in high-density integrated FPC applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ag@ceramic composite papermaking pigment was prepared by coating silver onto red ceramic powder using the electroless plating method. SEM and XRD showed that the ceramic pigments have a porous crystalline structure and that silver particles had been successfully loaded onto the surface and into the pores of the Ag@ceramic. Untreated ceramic pigment and Ag@ceramic pigment were incorporated into paper sheets by coating, filling and filling‐coating. Using spinach as an example, the ability of the different papers to preserve food was then evaluated. Four indicators were used to assess the preservative effect of the papers: inhibition of growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, weight loss of the spinach and retention of vitamin C and chlorophyll in the spinach. Although the ceramic preservative paper has no antibacterial properties, it reduced weight loss from the spinach and increased retention of vitamin C and chlorophyll. The antibacterial preservative papers inhibited the growth of E. coli and S. aureus by >99%, and because of their additional antibacterial activity, these papers preserved the spinach more effectively. The experimental results showed that the antibacterial food‐preservative paper incorporating ceramic pigments had great potential in food packing applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]