Sustainable approach to electroless copper plating process

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.