Method for preparing substrates for deposition of metal seed from an organometallic vapor for subsequent electroless metallization

摘要

A process for preparing a substrate, e.g., an epoxy printed circuit board, for subsequent metallization. Active chemical sites are formed adhering to the substrate surface. The substrate is then exposed to a vapor of a volatile organometallic compound, which chemically reacts with the active sites and is decomposed to at least a species of the metal constituent of the compound. This species adheres to the substrate and can be transformed into the free metal which is useful as a seed for subsequent electroless deposition of a metal thereon. If selective deposition is desired, a resist masking layer is used prior to forming the seed layer. Volatile organopalladium compounds, such as (cyclopentadienyl)(allyl)palladium and bis(allyl)pallidium, are particularly effective for depositing a palladium seed which is particularly effective for electroless deposition of copper.