# US 2020/0399760 A1 · Electroless plating of objects with carbon-based material > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0399760 A1 - Document ID: US20200399760A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/975,564 - Filed: 2019-02-26 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2018-02-26 - Assignees: Graphene Leaders Canada (GLC) Inc. - Applicants: Graphene Leaders Canada (GLC) Inc. - Inventors: Melissa Gail FAICHUK; Leah Shawn COUMONT - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200399760A1 ## CPC - C23C 18/34: using reducing agents - C23C 18/1662: {Use of incorporated material in the solution or dispersion, e.g. particles, whiskers, wires} - C23C 18/1676: {Heating of the solution} - C23C 18/1669: {Agitation, e.g. air introduction} - C23C 18/1844: {with use of organic or inorganic compounds other than metals, first} - C23C: COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL (making metal-coated products by extrusion B21C23/22; covering with metal by connecting pre-existing layers to articles, see the relevant places, e.g. B21D39/00, B23K; metallising of glass C03C; metallising mortars, concrete, artificial stone, ceramics or natural stone C04B41/00; enamelling of, or applying a vitreous layer to, metals C23D; treating metal surfaces or coating of metals by electrolysis or electrophoresis C25D; single-crystal film growth C30B; by metallising textiles D06M11/83; decorating textiles by locally metallising D06Q1/04) ## Abstract A metalizing bath for an electroless plating system includes a metal ion source, a reducing agent, insoluble particulate matter, and stabilizing components, wherein the stabilizing components comprise at least one anionic surfactant and at least one cationic surfactant. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A metalizing bath for an electroless plating system, comprising: in solution, metal ions, a reducing agent, and stabilizing components; and insoluble particulate matter suspended in the solution; wherein the stabilizing components comprise at least one anionic surfactant and at least one cationic surfactant. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The metalizing bath of claim 1, wherein the reducing agent is a chemical reducing agent. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The metalizing bath of claim 1, wherein the metal ion is derived from a metal compound or a metal salt dissolved in the solution. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The metalizing bath of claim 1, wherein the metal ion is derived from a nickel compound or a nickel salt dissolved in the solution. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The metalizing bath of claim 1, wherein the particulate matter comprises a carbon-based material. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The metallizing bath of claim 5, wherein the carbon-based material comprises one or more materials selected from a group consisting of: graphite, single layer graphene, multi-layer graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, expanded graphite graphene, and a graphene-derivative material. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The metalizing bath of claim 6, wherein the graphene or graphite has an average particle size of less than 100 microns. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The metalizing bath of claim 1, wherein the stabilizing components further comprise dispersing agents. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The metalizing bath of claim 1, wherein the stabilizing components comprise a ratio of cationic to anionic surfactants in a range of between 1%:99% to 99%:1%. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The metalizing bath of claim 1, wherein the stabilizing components have an aggregate concentration of between 0.1 ppm and 10,000 ppm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The metalizing bath of claim 1, wherein the carbon-based material source has a loading factor of between 0.01% and 10%. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The metalizing bath of claim 1, wherein the carbon-based material has a loading factor of between 0.1% and 1%. ### Claim 13 A method of electroless plating, comprising the steps of: providing a metalizing bath comprising metal ions, a reducing agent, and stabilizing components in solution, and insoluble particulate matter suspended in the solution, the stabilizing components comprising at least one anionic surfactant and at least one cationic surfactant; submerging a surface in the metalizing bath and causing the surface to be plated. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the reducing agent is a chemical reducing agent. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the metal ions are provided by dissolving a metal compound or a metal salt in the solution. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the metal ions are provided by dissolving a nickel compound or a nickel salt in the solution. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the particulate matter comprises a carbon-based material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the carbon-based material comprises one or more materials selected from a group consisting of: graphite, single layer graphene, multi-layer graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide, expanded graphite graphene, and a graphene-derivative material. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein the graphene or graphite has an average particle size of less than 100 microns. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the stabilizing components comprise surfactants, dispersing agents, or combinations thereof. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the stabilizing components comprise a ratio of cationic to anionic surfactants in a range of between 1%:99% to 99%:1%. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the stabilizing components have an aggregate concentration of between 0.1 ppm and 10,000 ppm. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the carbon-based material source has a loading factor of between 0.01% and 10%. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the carbon-based material has a loading factor of between 0.1% and 1%.