DEPOSITION PRODUCTS, COMPOSITE MATERIALS AND PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF
A method for producing a composite material comprising a substrate and a deposition product. The deposition product is comprised of at least one oxidized species of a metal, wherein the metal is comprised of silver. The method includes first contacting the substrate with a first basic environment comprising ions of the metal in order to expose the substrate to the ions of the metal, wherein the first basic environment is comprised of a first basic solution comprising an amount of a silver diamino complex. The method further includes second contacting the substrate with a second basic environment in order to produce the composite material, wherein the second basic environment is comprised of a second basic solution containing an amount of a strong alkali compound.
1 . A method for producing a composite material comprising a substrate and a deposition product, wherein the deposition product is comprised of at least one oxidized species of a metal, and wherein the metal is comprised of silver, the method comprising the following steps:
(a) first contacting the substrate with a first basic environment comprising ions of the metal in order to expose the substrate to the ions of the metal, wherein the first basic environment is comprised of a first basic solution comprising an amount of a silver diamino complex; and
(b) second contacting the substrate with a second basic environment in order to produce the composite material, wherein the second basic environment is comprised of a second basic solution containing an amount of a strong alkali compound.
2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first basic solution results from a mixture of a silver compound and ammonium hydroxide in an aqueous medium.
3 . The method as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first basic solution is comprised of an amount of ammonium hydroxide which is selected such that a concentration of ammonium hydroxide in the first basic solution is between about 25 percent and about 35 percent ammonium hydroxide by volume of the first basic solution.
4 . The method as claimed in claim 3 wherein the silver compound is selected from the group of silver compounds consisting of silver salts, silver oxides and mixtures thereof.
5 . The method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the silver compound is comprised of silver nitrate.
6 . The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first basic solution is comprised of an amount of silver nitrate which is selected such that a concentration of silver nitrate in the first basic solution is between about 1 gram per liter and about 20 grams per liter.
7 . The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first basic solution has a pH in the range from about 8 to about 14.
8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strong alkali compound is selected from the group of compounds consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and mixtures thereof.
9 . The method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the strong alkali compound is comprised of sodium hydroxide.
10 . The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the second basic solution is comprised of an amount of sodium hydroxide which is selected such that a concentration of sodium hydroxide in the first basic solution is between about 15 grams per liter and about 35 grams per liter.
11 . The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second contacting step is performed at a temperature of between about 2 degrees Celsius and about 60 degrees Celsius.
12 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step, prior to the first contacting step, of etching the substrate by immersing the substrate in an etching solution.
13 . The method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the etching solution is comprised of a mixture of an alcohol and an aqueous solution of a hydroxide compound.
14 . The method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the hydroxide compound is selected from the group of hydroxide compounds consisting of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide and mixtures thereof.
15 . The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the hydroxide compound is comprised of sodium hydroxide.
16 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of adding an amount of an oxidizing agent to the second basic solution during the second contacting step.
17 . The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the oxidizing agent is selected from the group of oxidizing agents consisting of persulfates, permanganates, peroxides and mixtures thereof.
18 . The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the oxidizing agent is comprised of a persulfate.
19 . The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the persulfate is selected from the group of persulfates consisting of potassium persulfate, sodium persulfate, ammonium persulfate and mixtures thereof.
20 . The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the persulfate is comprised of potassium persulfate.
21 . The method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the second basic solution is comprised of an amount of persulfate which is selected such that a concentration of the persulfate in the second basic solution is between about 1 gram per liter and about 25 grams per liter.
22 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of adding an amount of a residual silver compound to the second basic solution during the second contacting step.
23 . The method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the residual silver compound is comprised of silver nitrate.
24 . The method as claimed in claim 23 wherein the second basic solution is comprised of an amount of the residual silver compound which is selected such that a concentration of the residual silver compound in the second basic solution is between about 1 gram per liter and about 5 grams per liter.
25 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of agitating the second basic solution during at least a portion of the second contacting step.