Nanoscale Particles Enhanced Gold Plating

Abstract

Using precious metals as plating materials is an effective measure to avoid failures of electrical contacts caused by fretting. When using precious metals, such as gold, one of the limitations to their lifetime is the wear resistance. In order to improve the wear resistance of gold plates, gold alloy is usually used. Instead of alloying elements, nanoscale particles of metal oxides were used for the modification of plates in our investigation. Some of the nanoscale particles show considerable impact on the performance of plates for electrical contacts. This paper shows the first results and new challenges when using nanoscale particles for electroplating.

The Controlled Single-Step Synthesis of Ag/TiO2 and Au/TiO2 by Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis (USP)

“…The synthesis of those nanoparticles will provide development of a novel method for the improvement of the tribological and electrical properties and extension of the lifetime of the galvanic gold layers by the incorporation of the nanoparticles. 12 …”

Advances in Thermochemical Synthesis and Characterization of the Prepared Copper/Alumina Nanocomposites

“…Appropriate size and even distribution of dispersed particles also contribute to a positive effect via dispersion strengthening [3]. Finer particles with homogenous distribution and low volume fraction of dispersed particles in the total volume of the base metal will act as obstacles to dislocation motion, even at elevated temperatures without significant effects on conductivities, both thermal and electrical [4][5][6][7].…”