Interactions of Electroless Catalysts with Plasma‐Oxidized Surfaces of Polystyrene‐Based Resins

Abstract

The way in which chemically modified polymer surfaces (substrates) affect the activity of electroless catalysts was examined. Surfaces of three injection-molded styrene containing polymers [polystyrene (PS), poly(styrene-acrylonitrile) (SAN), and poly(acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS)] were modified by either plasma oxidation or by plasma oxidation followed by immersion in sodium hydroxide solution. After modification, two palladium catalyst systems (a two-step palladium catalyst and a commercial colloid catalyst) and six electroless baths were tested for activity in combinations with these surfaces. The activities ofthe two catalysts vary unpredictably and differently as the polymer, surface treatment, and electroless bath are changed. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results show only a weak correlation between surface composition and platability: (i) plasma-treated polymers show a net increase in surface oxygen, present mostly as carbonyl, (ii) immersing the plasma-exposed surfaces in alkaline solutions lowers oxygen and carbonyl concentrations. Some of these results differ from those previously obtained with photo-oxidized surfaces.

Functionalization of Hydrogen-Terminated Si(100) Substrate by Surface-Initiated RAFT Polymerization of 4-Vinylbenzyl Chloride and Subsequent Derivatization for Photoinduced Metallization

“…The new doublet at the lowest BEs of about 335 and 340 eV, respectively, attributable to the Pd 3d 5/2 and Pd 3d 3/2 peak components, is assigned to the Pd(0) species. 41, 49 The other new doublet with intermediate BEs at about 336.5 and 341.5 eV for the respective Pd 3d 5/2 and Pd 3d 3/2 peak components is associated with the formation of the Pd-N complex (the Pd* species). 41, 50 The data in Figure 9b indicate that the extent of conversion of the Pd(II) species to Pd(0) species is about 43% after 30 min of UV irradiation.…”

“…The Pd 3d 5/2 and Pd 3d 3/2 peak components with the respective BEs at about 338 and 343 eV, are assigned to the Pd 2+ ions. 41, 49 The amount of Pd uptake, defined as the [Pd]/[N] ratio and determined from the corresponding Pd 3d and N 1s core-level spectral peak-area ratio, is about 0.3 for this Si-g-viologen surface. The Pd 3d core-level spectrum of the surface after UV irradiation can be curve-fitted with three spin-orbit-split doublets.…”

The Absence of Redox Reactions for Palladium(II) and Copper(II) on Electrostatically Charged Teflon: Relevance to the Concept of “Cryptoelectrons”

“…(1-5 10 13 ) cm À2 ) respectively, of a monolayer. [17] Furthermore, treating the surface containing Pd 2+ ions with a 1 % formaldehyde solution [15] causes their reduction to Pd 0 (Figure 2 b). With another set of samples that served as a reference, we have found that the XPS probe (X-ray plus a low-energy electron flood gun [18] ) does not noticeably affect the oxidation state of copper.…”

A method for polyaniline coatings on solid polystyrene surfaces and electroless copper deposition

“…The electroless copper plating solution constituting with 0.7 wt.% CuSO 4 d 5H 2 O, 2.5 wt.% sodium potassium tartarate, 0.4 wt.% NaOH and 0.4 wt.% formaldehyde was prepared as suggested in the literature [17]. The specimens having trace amount of elemental copper on the surface were soaked into this solution for 16 h. Progress of the copper deposition was followed by increasing thickness of the surface.…”