Electroless Copper Plating Solution Stability and Activity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional electroless copper plating solutions have poor stability and activity, limiting their effectiveness at low temperatures and resulting in a non-compact copper layer surface.

Innovation Solution

A copper plating solution comprising a copper salt, complexing agent, stabilizer, reducing agent, surfactant, hydroxyl-terminated polyoxypropylene ether, and sodium trisulfide-isothiourea-propane sulfonate, which acts as a chemical reaction bridge to enhance catalytic activity and stability, improving the plating process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional copper plating solution is used, then the plating process can be performed, but the stability and activity are poor, limiting effectiveness at low temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidactivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces hydroxyl-terminated polyoxypropylene ether and sodium trisulfide-isothiourea-propane sulfonate as intermediary substances that act as chemical reaction bridges between the copper salt and reducing agent. These intermediaries facilitate electron transfer and enhance catalytic activity while maintaining solution stability, resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite plating solution system by combining multiple components: copper salt, complexing agent, stabilizer, reducing agent, surfactant, hydroxyl-terminated polyoxypropylene ether, and sodium trisulfide-isothiourea-propane sulfonate. This composite formulation achieves both high stability and high activity, allowing effective plating at low temperatures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If traditional copper plating solution is used, then the plating process can be performed, but the surface is not compact enough

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesurface compactnessVSAvoidplating speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes concentration parameters of key components, particularly setting hydroxyl-terminated polyoxypropylene ether at 5-30 g/L and sodium trisulfide-isothiourea-propane sulfonate at 0.001-0.05 g/L. These parameter changes enable the formation of compact copper surfaces while maintaining high plating speeds through enhanced electron transfer efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the concentration of hydroxyl-terminated polyoxypropylene ether and sodium trisulfide-isothiourea-propane sulfonate is increased, then the activity and stability are improved, but the cost and complexity may increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidsolution complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent defines specific concentration ranges for each component to optimize performance while controlling complexity. Hydroxyl-terminated polyoxypropylene ether is set at 5-30 g/L and sodium trisulfide-isothiourea-propane sulfonate at 0.001-0.05 g/L, with copper salt at 5-20 g/L. These parameter specifications ensure improved stability and activity without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution significantly improves the activity and stability of the copper plating process, allowing for a compact copper layer formation with enhanced plating speed and quality.

Implementation Method 1

by using the hydroxyl-terminated polyoxypropylene ether and the sodium trisulfide-isothiourea-propane sulfonate, which may act as a chemical reaction bridge to accelerate the transfer speed of electron for the purpose of enhancing the catalytic activity of workpiece

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectron transfer: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

an electroless copper plating may be performed to form a compact surface with copper layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroless plating: Chemical Beam Epitaxy

Data Source

PatentEP2852696B1Copper plating solution and method for preparing the same
Publication Date: 2017.11.08 BYD CO LTD

AI summary

A copper plating solution and a method for preparing a copper plating solution are provided. The copper plating solution comprises: a copper salt, a complexing agent, a stabilizer, a reducing agent, a surfactant, a hydroxyl-terminated polyoxypropylene ether, and a sodium trisulfide-isothiourea-propane sulfonate.