Electroconductive structure and electroplating method using the structure

Abstract

A structure that is endowed with electric conductivity by plate-coating with a titanium nitride layer or by generation of a titanium nitride layer on a surface of a base material made of an inorganic material or an organic material, and a method of electroplating a cathode with a simple metal or an alloy, wherein the structure is used as an anode and/or a cathode. The structure is corrosion-resistant and has high electroconductivity, and thus the electroplating method using the structure allows the simplification and the cost reduction of an electroplating process.

1 . A structure that is endowed with electric conductivity by plate-coating with a titanium nitride layer or by generation of a titanium nitride layer on a surface of a base material made of an inorganic material.  
     
     
         2 . A structure that is endowed with electric conductivity by plate-coating with a titanium nitride layer or by generation of a titanium nitride layer on a surface of a base material made of an organic material.  
     
     
         3 . The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said base material is made of a metal having electric conductivity.  
     
     
         4 . The structure according to  claim 3 , wherein said base material is made of titanium or a titanium alloy, and said structure is obtainable by direct nitriding of the base material surface.  
     
     
         5 . The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein said base material is made of a material having no electric conductivity.  
     
     
         6 . The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein thickness of the titanium nitride layer is from 0.01 to 3 μm.  
     
     
         7 . A method of electroplating a cathode with a simple metal or an alloy, wherein an anode comprises a structure that is endowed with electric conductivity by plate-coating with a titanium nitride layer or by generation of a titanium nitride layer on a surface of a base material made of an inorganic material or an organic material.  
     
     
         8 . A method of electroplating a cathode with a simple metal or an alloy, wherein the cathode comprises a structure that is endowed with electric conductivity by plate-coating with a titanium nitride layer or by generation of a titanium nitride layer on a surface of a base material made of an inorganic material or an organic material.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the cathode is plated with a noble metal.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the cathode is plated with a noble metal.