An article includes an electroless deposited aluminum layer. The aluminum layer is deposited in an electroless plating composition. The composition includes an aluminum ionic liquid, a reducing agent, and an additive selected from the group consisting of a catalyst, an alloying element, and a combination thereof.

Devices, systems, and methods are contemplated for depositing metals to the surface of a substrate. A first precursor ink including a metal is applied to a surface of the substrate, and the precursor ink is reduced to deposit the metal to the substrate, preferably by thermal reduction, forming a first metal layer. A second precursor ink having a second metal is then applied to the substrate, at least partially over the first metal layer. The second precursor ink is then reduced, typically by chemical reduction, depositing the second metal over the first metal layer in a globular fashion. Precursor inks are also disclosed having an alkyl metal carboxylate, a cyclic amine, and at least one of an ester, a hydrocarbon, or an ether.

An all solution-processed deposition includes a non-water soluble, non-self-cracking film deposited by a solution process (e.g., spray, dip, spin coat, and the like), a water soluble, self-cracking film deposited by a solution process (e.g., spray, dip, spin coat, and the like), cracking of the film, and filling the cracks with a metal that is deposited in solution (e.g., by electroless disposition). A transparent substrate having a cracked water insoluble, non-self-cracking film surface coating includes a plurality of fissures therein extending to and exposing portions of the surface of the underlying transparent substrate is useful for producing a transparent conducting film.

An all solution-processed deposition includes a non-water soluble, non-self-cracking film deposited by a solution process (e.g., spray, dip, spin coat, and the like), a water soluble, self-cracking film deposited by a solution process (e.g., spray, dip, spin coat, and the like), cracking of the film, and filling the cracks with a metal that is deposited in solution (e.g., by electroless disposition). A transparent substrate having a cracked water insoluble, non-self-cracking film surface coating includes a plurality of fissures therein extending to and exposing portions of the surface of the underlying transparent substrate is useful for producing a transparent conducting film.

A method of performing electroless electrochemical atomic layer deposition is provided and includes: providing a substrate including an exposed upper metal layer; exposing the substrate to a first precursor solution to create a sacrificial metal monolayer on the exposed upper metal layer via underpotential deposition, where the first precursor solution is an aqueous solution including a reducing agent; subsequent to the forming of the sacrificial metal monolayer, rinsing the substrate; subsequent to the rinsing of the substrate, exposing the substrate to a second precursor solution to replace the sacrificial metal monolayer with a first deposition layer; and subsequent to replacing the sacrificial metal monolayer with the first deposition layer, rinsing the substrate. The exposure of the substrate to the first precursor solution and the exposure of the substrate to the second precursor solution are electroless processes.

A method of performing electroless electrochemical atomic layer deposition is provided and includes: providing a substrate including an exposed upper metal layer; exposing the substrate to a first precursor solution to create a sacrificial metal monolayer on the exposed upper metal layer via underpotential deposition, where the first precursor solution is an aqueous solution including a reducing agent; subsequent to the forming of the sacrificial metal monolayer, rinsing the substrate; subsequent to the rinsing of the substrate, exposing the substrate to a second precursor solution to replace the sacrificial metal monolayer with a first deposition layer; and subsequent to replacing the sacrificial metal monolayer with the first deposition layer, rinsing the substrate. The exposure of the substrate to the first precursor solution and the exposure of the substrate to the second precursor solution are electroless processes.

The thermally activated building panel (1) includes a metal plate (2) having a room-facing surface (3) and a building-facing surface (4). A heat-exchanger tube (5) for conveying a cooling or heating medium is in conductive thermal contact with the building-facing surface (4) of the metal plate (2). A textile (9) is arranged on the room-facing surface (3) of the metal plate (2) and has a first surface (10) generally contacting the metal plate (2) and a second surface (11) generally visible from said room. The textile (9) is tensioned between opposed edges (12) of the metal plate (2). The first surface (10) of the textile (9) is metallized by deposition of metal particles on the textile (9).

A wear resistant coated piston ring for an engine is provided. The piston ring includes a coating disposed on a ring body. The coating includes initially includes alternating first and second layers, wherein the first layers include trivalent chromium, and the second layers include nickel and phosphorous. The first layers are applied by depositing a trivalent chromium electrolyte, specifically Cr3+ electrolyte. The second layers are applied by electroless deposition. The coating is left in the as-is condition and is not heat treated before being disposed on a piston and then in an engine. The coating is naturally exposed to heat while the engine is running, and this heat causes the chromium, nickel, and phosphorous of the layers to diffuse and form a surface layer on a compound layer. The surface layer includes trivalent chromium, and the compound layer includes a ternary compound of chromium, nickel, and phosphorous.

A wear resistant coated piston ring for an engine is provided. The piston ring includes a coating disposed on a ring body. The coating includes initially includes alternating first and second layers, wherein the first layers include trivalent chromium, and the second layers include nickel and phosphorous. The first layers are applied by depositing a trivalent chromium electrolyte, specifically Cr3+ electrolyte. The second layers are applied by electroless deposition. The coating is left in the as-is condition and is not heat treated before being disposed on a piston and then in an engine. The coating is naturally exposed to heat while the engine is running, and this heat causes the chromium, nickel, and phosphorous of the layers to diffuse and form a surface layer on a compound layer. The surface layer includes trivalent chromium, and the compound layer includes a ternary compound of chromium, nickel, and phosphorous.

A method includes a step of performing a selective catalyst treatment by supplying a catalyst solution to an upper surface of an exposed interconnection layer forming a step portion of a stepped shape formed by pair layers stacked to form the stepped shape, the pair layer including an interconnection layer formed on an insulating layer, and a step of selectively growing a metal layer by performing electroless plating on the upper surface of the interconnection layer on which the catalyst treatment is performed.