Researchers in South Korea have developed an environmentally friendly silver electroplating technology that excludes the use of traditionally applied toxic cyanide. Instead, they introduced phosphorus-based compounds that create an acidic galvanic environment, enabling the formation of uniform and stable silver films on electronic components, reports the Baltimore Chronicle with reference to Interesting Engineering.
The method utilizes phosphine ligands to stabilize silver ions and prevent their precipitation, while also optimizing phosphorus-based electrolyte concentrations to achieve high-quality coating. This innovation not only removes environmental hazards linked to cyanide but also ensures the coating quality required for electronics and semiconductor manufacturing.
The technology is expected to be used across various industries, including electronics, automotive manufacturing, medicine, optical sensors, and renewable energy. Its adoption will support the shift towards sustainable production under increasing global environmental regulations.
The results of the study were published in the journal Electrochimica Acta.
Earlier we wrote that YKK creates first remote-controlled automatic zipper.