A method for forming electroplated copper on a surface of non-metal materials by graphene-based plating ink is revealed. A graphene-based plating ink is prepared by modified functionalized graphene and then sprayed on a surface of a non-metal material. Next dry the graphene-based plating ink sprayed on the non-metal material. A layer of electroplated copper is formed on a surface of the graphene-based plating ink by plating. The method uses graphene-based plating ink as a conductor of the electroplated copper and increases adhesion between functionalized graphene contained in the graphene-based plating ink and the non-metal material by modification. During plating, no heavy metal is used as catalyst so that the method is environmentally friendly and cost-saving. The graphene-based plating ink with excellent adhesion and higher flexibility can be attached to the surface of the non-metal material firmly and used as an adhesive between electroplated copper and the non-metal material.

The present invention relates to a plastic part (1) with selective metallization comprising at least one first non-metallized portion (7) made from a first plastic material that cannot be metallized by electroplating and at least one second metallized portion (9) made from a second metallizable plastic material, the first plastic material being a mixture of polycarbonate and of a semiaromatic polyester and the second plastic material being a polyamide.

Disclosed is a method for activating a surface of metals, such as self-passivated metals, and of metal-oxide dissolution, effected using a fluoroanion-containing composition. Also disclosed is an electrochemical cell utilizing an aluminum-containing anode material and a fluoroanion-containing electrolyte, characterized by high efficiency, low corrosion, and optionally mechanical or electrochemical rechargeability. Also disclosed is a process for fusing (welding, soldering etc.) a self-passivated metal at relatively low temperature and ambient atmosphere, and a method for electrodepositing a metal on a self-passivated metal using metal-oxide source.

Disclosed is a method for activating a surface of metals, such as self-passivated metals, and of metal-oxide dissolution, effected using a fluoroanion-containing composition. Also disclosed is an electrochemical cell utilizing an aluminum-containing anode material and a fluoroanion-containing electrolyte, characterized by high efficiency, low corrosion, and optionally mechanical or electrochemical rechargeability. Also disclosed is a process for fusing (welding, soldering etc.) a self-passivated metal at relatively low temperature and ambient atmosphere, and a method for electrodepositing a metal on a self-passivated metal using metal-oxide source.

A plated fiber that is obtained by applying a metal plating onto a fiber having an elongation percentage which is more than or equal to 1% and less than or equal to 10%. An elongation percentage of the metal plating is higher than the elongation percentage of the fiber. A carbon fiber wherein the surface oxygen amount as a value obtained by dividing an O.sub.1S peak intensity measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy by a C.sub.1S peak intensity measured by the spectroscopy is more than or equal to 0.097 and less than or equal to 0.138.

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 cathode is provided for electrolysis of water wherein the cathode material comprises a multi-principal element, transition metal dichalcogenide material that has four or more chemical elements and that is a single phase, solid solution. The pristine cathode material does not contain platinum as a principal (major) component. However, a cathode comprising a transition metal dichalcogenide having platinum (Pt) nanosized islands or precipitates disposed thereon is also provided.

A method of making a catalyst layer of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell includes the step of preparing a porous buckypaper layer comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon nanofibers and carbon nanotubes. Platinum group metal nanoparticles are deposited in a liquid solution on an outer surface of the buckypaper to create a platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper. A proton conducting electrolyte is deposited on the platinum group metal nanoparticles by electrophoretic deposition to create a proton-conducting layer on the an outer surface of the platinum nanoparticles. An additional proton-conducting layer is deposited by contacting the platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper with a liquid proton-conducting composition in a solvent. The platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper is dried to remove the solvent. A membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is also disclosed.

A method of making a catalyst layer of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell includes the step of preparing a porous buckypaper layer comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon nanofibers and carbon nanotubes. Platinum group metal nanoparticles are deposited in a liquid solution on an outer surface of the buckypaper to create a platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper. A proton conducting electrolyte is deposited on the platinum group metal nanoparticles by electrophoretic deposition to create a proton-conducting layer on the an outer surface of the platinum nanoparticles. An additional proton-conducting layer is deposited by contacting the platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper with a liquid proton-conducting composition in a solvent. The platinum group metal nanoparticle buckypaper is dried to remove the solvent. A membrane electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell is also disclosed.

Methods of plating a metal on a substrate including coating a nanoporous metal-oxide layer on a surface of the substrate prior to metal plating. Methods may include coating a surface of the substrate with a slurry including colloidal metal-oxide precursor particles and aluminum oxide particles. After coating, the slurry may be calcinated on the surface of the substrate to form a nanoporous metal-oxide layer on the surface. Then, a metallic film may be plated on the nanoporous metal-oxide layer. The metallic film may be plated by an electroless plating method and/or an electroplating method. Articles, such as electronic interposers, may be made using the methods of plating a metal described herein.