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  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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Gold plating from Iodide solution

I work in a thin film lab, and have been thinking of trying to plate gold onto substrates instead of using our clunky evaporator. The gold is used to carry a small current and it is good since it doesn't readily oxidize. The question is does anyone know if it is possible to plate gold from a saturated Iodine solution. I know that the KI-I-H2O solution dissolves the Au very readily but I have never tried to reverse the process. Any thoughts on this?

Jon Rudge
Researcher - Victoria, BC, Can
2007

Silver plating from iodide based solutions is well known (even in 19th century) -- maybe gold can be plated from that type of solution too?! According to 4th edition of "Modern Electroplating" [on AbeBooks, eBay, or Amazon affil links] (p.216) gold can be plated from mixed thiosulphate iodide bath. Hope it helps and good luck!

Goran Budija
- Cerovski vrh Croatia
2007

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2007

In the 19th century gold was plated from a fulminate solution!
Being possible is a long way from being a good viable process.
Why the urge to re-invent the wheel?
Plating on thin film circuits has been a simple established process for decades and any of the metal finishing supply houses will sell you a process that is known to work reliably.
Don't forget to estimate the plated area and plate at an appropriate current density. You may also find that cleaning the substrate is more critical. I have not plated onto circuits containing diodes but I would not be surprised to find some interesting effects

Geoff Smith
Hampshire, England