Cyanide-free Au plating baths, containing KAuCl4, triammonium citrate, and sodium sulfite, have been developed by the authors. The stability of these solutions depends on the order of mixing of the additives. The aim of this study was to employ turbidity measurements and cryogenic x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to identify the role of the additives and the complexes responsible for solution stability or degradation. Electron microscopy was used to characterize any precipitation products generated in the solutions. It was shown that the long-term stability of the solutions is due to the role of citrate and sulfite as complexing agents.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
T.A. Green, Gold Bull. 40, 105 (2007).
W. Sun and D.G. Ivey, Mater. Sci. Eng. B 65, 111 (1999).
W. Tang, A. He, Q. Liu, and D.G. Ivey, J. Mater. Sci.-Mater. El. 19, 1176 (2008).
A. He, Q. Liu, and D.G. Ivey, Plat. Surf. Finish. 92, 30 (2005).
P. Wilkinson, Gold Bull. 19, 75 (1986).
Y. Okinaka and M. Hoshino, Gold Bull. 31, 13 (1984).
T.A. Green and S. Roy, J. Electrochem. Soc. 153, C157 (2006).
F. Zuntini, G. Aliprandini, J. Gioria, A. Meyer, and S. Losi, U.S. patent 3787463 (22 January 1974).
H. Honma and Y. Kagaya, J. Electrochem. Soc. 140, L135 (1993).
P.T. Smith, U.S. patent 3057789 (9 October 1962).
D.G. Foulke and J.M. Deuber, U.S. patent 3990954 (9 November 1976).
R.J. Morrissey, U.S. patent 5277790 (11 January 1994).
A. He, Q. Liu, and D.G. Ivey, J. Mater. Sci.-Mater. El. 20, 543 (2009).
A. He, Q. Liu, and D.G. Ivey, J. Mater. Sci.-Mater. El. 17, 63 (2006).
J.F. Watts, An Introduction to Surface Analysis by XPS and AES (New York: Wiley, 2003).
A. McNeillie, D.H. Brown, W.E. Smith, M. Gibson, and L. Watson, J. Chem. Soc. Dalton. 767 (1980).
H. Kitagawa, N. Kojima, and N. Nakajima, J. Chem. Soc. Dalton. 3121 (1991).
N.P. Finkelstein and R.D. Hancock, Gold Bull. 7, 72 (1974).
P. Pan and S.A. Wood, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 55, 2365 (1991).
D. Atzei, C. Sadun, and L. Pandolfi, Spectrochim. Acta A. 56, 531 (2000).
K. Kishi and S. Ikeda, J. Phys. Chem. 78, 107 (1974).
J. Turkevich, P.C. Stevenson, and J. Hillier, Discuss. Faraday Soc. 11, 55 (1951).
J. Turkevich, P.C. Stevenson, and J. Hillier, J. Phys. Chem. 57, 670 (1953).
B. Rodríguez-González, P. Mulvaney, and L.M. Liz-Marzán, Z. Phys. Chem. 221, 415 (2007).
M.K. Chow and C.F. Zukoski, J. Colloid Interface Sci. 165, 97 (1994).
R.J. Puddephatt, Comprehensive Coordination Chemistry: Late Transition Elements, ed. Sir G. Wilkinson (New York: Pergamon Press; 1987), vol. 5.
Acknowledgements
Funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada and support of Micralyne Inc. are greatly acknowledged. The authors would also like to thank R. Eslahpazir for help with TEM imaging and the Alberta Centre for Surface Engineering and Science (ACSES) for providing access to XPS facilities.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11664-010-1398-7
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dalili, N., He, A., Liu, Q. et al. A Cryo-XPS Study of Triammonium Citrate-KAuCl4-Na2SO3 Electroplating Solutions for Pb-Free Solder Packaging. J. Electron. Mater. 39, 1554–1561 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-010-1273-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-010-1273-6