The invention relates to an anode for use in electroplating applications for highly alkaline electroplating electrolytes based on sodium hydroxide for depositing zinc and zinc alloys onto steel substrates and die-cast zinc substrates.

A method comprises depositing a barrier layer on a dielectric layer to prevent oxidation of a metal layer to be deposited by electroplating due to an oxide present in the dielectric layer and depositing a doped liner layer on the barrier layer to bond with the metal layer to be deposited on the liner layer by the electroplating. The dopant forms a protective passivation layer on a surface of the liner layer and dissolves during the electroplating so that the metal layer deposited on the liner layer by the electroplating bonds with the liner layer. The dopant reacts with the dielectric layer and forms a layer of a compound between the barrier layer and the dielectric layer. The compound layer prevents oxidation of the barrier layer and the liner layer due to the oxide present in the dielectric layer and adheres the barrier layer to the dielectric layer.

A film forming device that avoids a leakage of a liquid electrolyte and a method for forming a metal film using the film forming device are provided. The film forming device to form the metal film includes an anode, a cathode, a solid electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, a solution container that defines a solution containing space between the anode and the solid electrolyte membrane, and a power supply that applies a voltage between the anode and the cathode. The solid electrolyte membrane includes a first surface exposed to the solution containing space and a second surface opposed to the cathode, and is dividable along a division surface having no common point with the first surface or the second surface.

A plating method capable of saving a substrate in an event of a failure of a transporter, a plating tank, or other component when the substrate is being plated is disclosed. The plating method includes: transporting a plurality of substrates to a plurality of plating tanks, respectively, with a transporter; immersing the plurality of substrates in a plating solution held in the plurality of plating tanks to plate the plurality of substrates; detecting a failure that has occurred in the transporter or a post-processing tank; and replacing the plating solution in the plurality of plating tanks with a preservative liquid to thereby immerse the plurality of substrates in the preservative liquid.

A plating method capable of saving a substrate in an event of a failure of a transporter, a plating tank, or other component when the substrate is being plated is disclosed. The plating method includes: transporting a plurality of substrates to a plurality of plating tanks, respectively, with a transporter; immersing the plurality of substrates in a plating solution held in the plurality of plating tanks to plate the plurality of substrates; detecting a failure that has occurred in the transporter or a post-processing tank; and replacing the plating solution in the plurality of plating tanks with a preservative liquid to thereby immerse the plurality of substrates in the preservative liquid.

Plating bath and well structures and methods are described to stop the organic compounds present in plating reservoir wells or bath solution from rising, i.e., climbing up the reservoir wall. An electroplating apparatus includes a vessel holding a liquid solution including metal plating material and an organic species, and a method of operating an electroplating apparatus. The apparatus is designed with plating bath and structures and methods to stop the organic compounds present in plating reservoir wells or bath solution from rising, i.e., climbing or wicking up the inner surfaces of reservoir walls, and to wash them back down on a continuous or cyclical basis in order to maintain a concentration of organic compounds in the plating solution within upper and lower specification limits.

Plating bath and well structures and methods are described to stop the organic compounds present in plating reservoir wells or bath solution from rising, i.e., climbing up the reservoir wall. An electroplating apparatus includes a vessel holding a liquid solution including metal plating material and an organic species, and a method of operating an electroplating apparatus. The apparatus is designed with plating bath and structures and methods to stop the organic compounds present in plating reservoir wells or bath solution from rising, i.e., climbing or wicking up the inner surfaces of reservoir walls, and to wash them back down on a continuous or cyclical basis in order to maintain a concentration of organic compounds in the plating solution within upper and lower specification limits.

A plating apparatus includes a plating tank and a plating unit that performs electrolytic plating on an object. The plating unit includes a workpiece passage region including a partition wall that allows passage of the plating solution but does not allow passage of the object, the workpiece passage region passing the object from above toward below, an injection unit that injects the plating solution from below toward above, a mixing unit that mixes the plating solution injected by the injection unit and the object to be plated passing through the workpiece passage region, an anode outside the workpiece passage region, a cathode inside the workpiece passage region including a hollow region through which a mixed fluid of the plating solution and the object to be plated passes from below toward above, and a guidance unit that guides the mixed fluid to the workpiece passage region.

A plating apparatus includes a plating tank and a plating unit that performs electrolytic plating on an object. The plating unit includes a workpiece passage region including a partition wall that allows passage of the plating solution but does not allow passage of the object, the workpiece passage region passing the object from above toward below, an injection unit that injects the plating solution from below toward above, a mixing unit that mixes the plating solution injected by the injection unit and the object to be plated passing through the workpiece passage region, an anode outside the workpiece passage region, a cathode inside the workpiece passage region including a hollow region through which a mixed fluid of the plating solution and the object to be plated passes from below toward above, and a guidance unit that guides the mixed fluid to the workpiece passage region.

An electroplating apparatus includes a plating bath and a substrate in a horizontal direction. The electroplating apparatus further includes a plurality of cathodes on first and second sides of the substrate in a first direction on one surface of the substrate, and an anode above the substrate, the anode being spaced apart from the substrate and configured to be movable in the first direction.