A method to produce a substrate suitable for diffusion bonding is described. A flexible dielectric substrate is provided. An alkaline modification is applied to the dielectric substrate to form a polyamic acid (PAA) anchoring layer on a surface of the dielectric substrate. A Ni—P seed layer is electrolessly plated on the PAA layer. Copper traces are plated within a photoresist pattern on the Ni—P seed layer. A surface finishing layer is electrolytically plated on the copper traces. The photoresist pattern and Ni—P seed layer not covered by the copper traces are removed to complete the substrate suitable for diffusion bonding.