| abstract |
A silver colloid that can be used as a catalyst for electroless plating is provided. A zero-valent silver composition is a colloid containing 4-dimethylaminopyridine as a stabilizer, zero-valent silver, and one or more ions of a metal having a potential to reduce silver ions to zero. A solution in which zero-valent silver compositions form particles in the nanometer range, which are stable in the open air at room temperature and at processing temperatures. A composition in which a metal ion having a potential for reducing silver ions to zero is selected from tin ions, iron ions, or titanium ions, and the composition has a pH of 3 to 11. This zerovalent silver and 4-dimethylaminopyridine form stabilized nanoparticles in solution. This zerovalent silver composition can be used as a catalyst in the metallization of non-conductive substrates. [Selection figure] None |