"a quaternary ammonium hydroxide or alkoxide capable of dissociating into a quaternary ammonium cation and a hydroxyl or alkoxyl ion; a reducing agent such as formaldehyde or formaldehyde precursor, present in an amount sufficient to react with said hydroxyl or alkoxyl ion to generate an electron to reduce the metal ions and deposit metal layers of copper, nickel or cobalt on the said noble metal." . . . .