Patent ID: 7115196

Claim:
A process for applying a metal structure to a workpiece comprising: providing an electroplating bath including a source of metal ions as a principal metal species to be deposited during subsequent electroplating; providing a workpiece having a metalized layer, the metalized layer being formed by a vapor-phase deposition process that anchors the metal to an underlying layer, the metalized layer having physical characteristics that render it generally unsuitable for bulk electrolytic deposition of metal thereon; providing an electroplating reactor for containing the electroplating bath and including an anode in electrical contact with the electroplating bath; exposing the workpiece and the anchored metal to the electroplating bath; providing electroplating power between the workpiece and the anode disposed in electrical contact with the electroplating bath to electroplate the principal metal species onto the underlying layer and the anchored metal under conditions sufficient to form an enhanced layer composed of the anchored metal and the electroplated metal species having physical characteristics suitable for bulk electrolytic deposition of metal thereon; and electrochemically depositing additional metal onto the enhanced layer.