Social distancing measures due to the SARS-CoV-2 virus have profoundly challenged the educational experimental work. We have sought to remediate this issue by designing a series of low cost, low risk, quick, and qualitative electrochemistry and corrosion experiments to be performed in the students' homes at the microscale. One such experience is the electroplating of Sn from acidic solutions using Sn from a readily available Sn-Pb solder alloy wire. This process catches students’ attention due to its simplicity and variety of applications, including corrosion protection, fabrication of electronic components, plating of cooking utensils, lithium batteries, etc. Modern plating approaches involve the fabrication of nanostructured deposits and multilayer coatings, more environmentally-sound baths and additives, application of pulses during plating, utilization of composites, and the like.

Homemade microscale tin plating

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.