Bathless metal-composite electroplating

Abstract

A bathless method for plating a conductive material with composite particles or with high surface coverage. The setup for the bathless electro-plating includes a cathode, a composite mixture, a membrane, and an anode. The cathode is a conductive material. The composite mixture comprises a metal salt, an acid, and a composite material. The composite mixture is applied to the cathode. A hydrophilic membrane is applied to the composite mixture. An anode, with oxidizing properties, is applied to the membrane. A current is applied to the bathless setup. Upon removing the current and composite mixture from the cathode, a metal-based composite coating remains on the cathode.

1 . A method of bathless plating, the method comprising:
 in a bathless setup comprising a cathode, a composite mixture, a membrane, and an anode, assembled by applying the composite mixture to the cathode, wherein the cathode is a conductive material, and wherein the composite mixture comprises a metal salt, an acid, and a composite material;   applying the membrane to the composite mixture, wherein the membrane is hydrophilic;   applying the anode to the membrane, wherein the anode is a material with oxidizing properties; and   applying a current to the bathless setup.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cathode is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, cadmium, chromium, copper, gold, iron, lead, nickel, platinum, silver, steel, tin, titanium, zinc, graphene, graphite, carbon nanotubes, and conductive plastic. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein metal salt comprises nickel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material is a phosphor. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material is selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene, polycarbonmonofluoride, diamond, tungsten carbide, silicon carbide, chromium carbide, and titanium dioxide. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
 applying water to the composite mixture.   
     
     
         8 .- 15 . (canceled)