a metal is electrolytically deposited on a nonconductive surface comprising impregnating a solid material with a reducible metal salt thereby forming a solid electrolyte material ; placing the solid electrolyte material between an anode and a cathode thereby forming an electrolytic cell and impressing a current across the electrodes of a potential sufficient to electrolyze the metal ions thereby resulting in the deposition of a metal layer along the surface of the electrolyte adjacent the cathode .