Molecular hydrogen in electroless copper deposits

Abstract
Clusters of molecular hydrogen have been detected at a concentration of 930 ppm H2 in electroless Cu deposits using a new, nondestructive, calorimetric technique. The H2 is located in microvoids at a pressure of 700 atm at room temperature. The observation of H2 supports previous suggestions that it is responsible for the embrittlement of electroless Cu. Gentle annealing at 150 °C restores the ductility and also removes the H2.