Metallization of electrospun PAN nanofibers via electroless gold plating

Abstract

An electroless gold plating process was investigated for the metallization of an electropun PAN fibre by utilizing a non-cyanide based gold complex i.e. gold thiosulfate. Prior to metallization the PAN fibers surface was activated and sensitized by the conventional method of treating a fiber surface with Sn²⁺/Pd²⁺ followed by the nickel deposition. The surface morphology of the metalized fiber was examined via FESEM and the image metrology software SPIP. The hydrophobic characteristics of the metalized fibre were also investigated, which shows the significant increase in the contact angle after the metallization of fibers.