IP Library Granted Patent US 12686936
Granted Patent B2
US 12686936 · App. 18/106,700 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Composition and method embodiments for plating metal coatings

Inventors: Lance Hubbard (Richland, WA); Christina Arendt (Richland, WA); Ryan Webster (Spokane Valley, WA)
Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
C25D3/54C25D5/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12686936
App. No.
18/106,700
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a coating composition and a method of using the same for forming metal coatings on substrates. In particular embodiments, the coating composition comprises a deep eutectic solvent and/or an ionic liquid; a metal precursor; an alkali metal salt; and an optional additive component. The coating composition and method embodiments disclosed herein provide durable, even, high-surface area coatings on various types of substrates and also can be used at low temperatures.

Claims (32)

1 . A coating composition, comprising:

a deep eutectic solvent comprising an organic salt, a hydrogen-bond donor compound, or a combination thereof;

an ionic liquid;

a refractory metal salt compound comprising (i) a refractory metal selected from Zr, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, or Ir and (ii) a halide selected from a fluoride or a bromide, wherein the refractory metal salt compound is present at a concentration ranging from 0.25 M to 0.5 M; and

an alkali salt.

2 . The coating composition of claim 1 , wherein the deep eutectic solvent comprises a mixture of the organic salt and the hydrogen-bond donor.

3 . The coating composition of claim 1 , wherein the organic salt comprises a quaternary ammonium compound and a counterion selected from a halide, an acetate, or a bitartrate.

4 . The coating composition of claim 3 , wherein the quaternary ammonium compound is selected from choline, N-ethyl-2-hydroxy-N,N-dimethylethanaminium, 2-(chlorocarbonyloxy)-N,N,N-trimethylethanaminium, N-benzyl-2-hydroxy-N,N-dimethylethanaminium.

5 . The coating composition of claim 3 , wherein the counterion is a halide selected from a chloride or a bromide.

6 . The coating composition of claim 1 , wherein the hydrogen-bond donor compound is selected from urea, acetamide, 1-methyl urea, 1,3-dimethyl urea, 1,1-dimethyl urea, thiourea, benzamide, glycerol, ethylene glycol, malonic acid, benzoic acid, adipic acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, or combinations thereof.

7 . The coating composition of claim 1 , wherein the deep eutectic solvent comprises choline chloride, choline bromide, choline acetate, choline bitartrate, or a combination thereof; and urea, acetamide, 1-methyl urea, 1,3-dimethyl urea, 1,1-dimethyl urea, thiourea, benzamide, glycerol, ethylene glycol, malonic acid, benzoic acid, adipic acid, oxalic acid, succinic acid, citric acid, acetic acid, or combinations thereof.

8 . The coating composition of claim 1 , wherein the deep eutectic solvent comprises choline chloride and ethylene glycol.

9 . The coating composition of claim 8 , wherein the choline chloride and ethylene glycol are present in a ratio ranging from 1:3 choline chloride:ethylene glycol to 3:1 choline chloride:ethylene glycol.

10 . The coating composition of claim 1 , wherein the ionic liquid comprises a cationic component and an anionic component, wherein the cationic component is a positively-charged compound comprising a quaternary substituted nitrogen atom or a tri-substituted sulfur atom and the anionic component is a bis-substituted imide compound.

11 . The coating composition of claim 1 , wherein the ionic liquid is selected from triethylsulfonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-butyl-3-methylpyridinium bis(trifluormethylsulfonyl)imide, methyl-trioctylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, diethylmethyl (2-methoxyethyl) ammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, or a combination thereof.

12 . The coating composition of claim 1 , wherein the refractory metal salt compound is selected from ZrF 4 , TiF 4 , WF 4 , NbF 4 , NbF 5 , TaF 3 , TaF 5 , HfF 4 , VF 3 , VF 4 , IrF 4 , IrF 5 , ZrBr 4 , TiBr 4 , WBr 4 , NbBr 4 , NbBr 5 , TaBr 3 , TaBr 5 , HfBr 4 , VBr 3 , VBr 4 , IrBr 4 , or IrBr 5 .

13 . The coating composition of claim 1 , wherein the refractory metal salt compound is ZrF 4 .

14 . The coating composition of claim 1 , wherein the refractory metal salt compound is TiF 4 .

15 . The coating composition of claim 1 , wherein the alkali salt is LiF.

16 . The coating composition of claim 1 , further comprising an additive component selected from urea, a pH-controlling reagent, or a reducing agent.

17 . A coating composition, comprising:

a deep eutectic solvent;

an ionic liquid;

a zirconium salt compound comprising zirconium and a halide selected from a fluoride

or a bromide; and

an alkali salt.

18 . The coating composition of claim 17 , wherein the deep eutectic solvent is a mixture of choline chloride and ethylene glycol; the ionic liquid is selected from triethylsulfonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-butyl-3-methylpyridinium bis(trifluormethylsulfonyl)imide, methyl-trioctylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, diethylmethyl (2-methoxyethyl) ammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, or a combination thereof; the zirconium salt compound is ZrF 4 ; and the alkali salt is LiF.

19 . A coating composition, comprising:

a deep eutectic solvent comprising a mixture of choline chloride and ethylene glycol;

an ionic liquid selected from triethylsulfonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, 1-butyl-3-methylpyridinium bis(trifluormethylsulfonyl)imide, methyl-trioctylammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, diethylmethyl (2-methoxyethyl) ammonium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, or a combination thereof;

TiF 4 present at a concentration ranging from 0.25 M to 0.5 M; and

LiF.