Abstract: Metallic coatings and alloys are deposited by thermally reducing inorganic or organic salts containing one or more metals and/or other cationic species in a reducing atmosphere at elevated temperatures. This environmentally-friendly deposition process enables a wide variety of metal and metal alloy compositions to be formed, including metallic or alloy deposits that could not otherwise be electroplated out of water-based solutions. This thermal reduction process and the deposits produced thereof can be applied onto flat strips, sheets, or plates for subsequent fabrication into components and devices and or onto formed parts as intermediate or final surface treatments, particularly components such as battery cans.