Patterned DBD treatment for area-selective metallization of polymers–plasma printing

The present paper reports on the local atmospheric pressure plasma pretreatment of polymeric substrates for a subsequent metallization by electroless nickel and copper electrolytes, respectively. Plasma-assisted deposition from aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane monomer using dielectric barrier microdischarges is used to prepare surfaces containing amino groups which have a strong tendency to bind Pd2+. The adsorbed palladium ions are reduced to metallic Pd nanoparticles serving as seeds for the autocatalytic metallization with Cu and Ni, respectively. The treated polymer has been characterized by fluorescence labeling with fluoresceine-isothiocyanate or fluorescamine. The adhesion of the thin metal films to the polymeric surface is usually sufficient to pass an adhesive tape test.