Effect of Epitaxial Growth of Gold Nanoparticles on Si Substrates on Adhesion of Electrolessly Deposited Metal Films

Electrolessly deposited metal films on silicon substrates using gold nanoparticles as catalysts yield much higher adhesion than that by using palladium or silver nanoparticles. In this study, the structure of the gold nanoparticles is analyzed by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Single crystalline gold nanoparticles are epitaxially deposited on silicon substrates and silicon-gold alloy is formed at the interface. Those epitaxially grown gold nanoparticles cause the high adhesion of electrolessly deposited nickel films on silicon substrates.