Comparative study of conventional and eco-friendly electroless baths for autocatalytic copper

This study investigates the performance of two distinct electroless copper baths commercial
and eco-friendly. The commercial bath employs ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a
complexing agent, formaldehyde as a reducing agent, and thiourea as a stabilizer. Potassium
permanganate enhances the brightness of the deposits, while sodium hydroxide maintains an
alkaline medium at pH 13.0 and 60 °C. In contrast, the eco-friendly bath is designed with a
minimal amount of biodegradable methanesulphonic Brønsted acid as an additive.
Dimethylamine borane (DMAB) functions as a strong reducing agent, xylitol serves as a safe
complexing agent, and potassium hydroxide regulates the pH. Benzotriazole (BTA), introduced
at 1 ppm, stabilizes the bath under optimal conditions of pH 11.0 at 28 °C. Structural and
surface morphology of the copper deposits were examined using Scanning Electron
Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD).
Electrochemical behavior and corrosion kinetics of both bath types were further evaluated
through cyclic voltammetr