12. Technologies for the Electrodeposition of Metals and Alloys: Materials and Electrolyte Selection, Substrate Preparation

Electrodeposition is a technology for the production of metals, alloys or composite films, characterized by a unique simplicity of implementation, low capital cost, and high versatility. This technique has been in use since the nineteenth century for the deposition of decorative films, as well as coatings that impart better corrosion resistance, or improved mechanical or wear properties. During the last 40 years however, electrodeposition has been applied to various aspects of manufacturing in electronics, leading to revolutionary advances; with an increased understanding of its fundamentals, it is being utilized today in an ever wider set of applications. In this chapter we discuss the set of materials that can be electroplated from aqueous solutions, their applications, and the methods involved in their manufacturing.