The present invention relates to curable compositions that are suitable for use as electrically conductive materials in the fabrication of electronic devices, integrated circuits, semiconductor devices, passive components, solar cells, solar modules, and/or light emitting diodes. The curable compositions comprise a) one or more curable resins; b) composite particles, which comprise i) an electrically conductive core, and ii) an electrically conductive shell, comprising one or more shell materials each selected from the group consisting of metal carbides, metal sulfides, metal borides, metal silicides, and metal nitrides; and c) electrically conductive particles different from component b). The present invention further relates to a method of bonding a first substrate to a second substrate, wherein the substrates are bonded under heat and pressure using said curable composition.

A method of forming transparent electrodes using printable conductive ink containing conductive materials dispersed in a viscous liquid which upon printing and thermal treatment will vaporise fully leaving behind the conductive material only. The viscous liquid acts as a medium by which conductive material dispersions are made processable for use in various printing techniques, allowing conductive patterns to be printed onto substrates (e.g. plastics, glass, metals, ceramics).

To provide: an electronic component which comprises a copper electrode on an inorganic material substrate and wherein the adhesion strength between the substrate and the copper electrode is high, thereby achieving improved adhesion of the copper electrode; and a method for manufacturing this electronic component. An electronic component which comprises a copper electrode on an inorganic material substrate and wherein an interface layer containing copper, manganese, silicon and oxygen is provided at the interface between the substrate and the copper electrode, and the interface layer contains crystal grains that are mainly formed of copper and dispersed in the interface layer. A method for manufacturing this electronic component comprises: an interface layer formation step for forming an interface layer on the substrate; and an electrode formation step for forming the copper electrode on the interface layer.

To provide: an electronic component which comprises a copper electrode on an inorganic material substrate and wherein the adhesion strength between the substrate and the copper electrode is high, thereby achieving improved adhesion of the copper electrode; and a method for manufacturing this electronic component. An electronic component which comprises a copper electrode on an inorganic material substrate and wherein an interface layer containing copper, manganese, silicon and oxygen is provided at the interface between the substrate and the copper electrode, and the interface layer contains crystal grains that are mainly formed of copper and dispersed in the interface layer. A method for manufacturing this electronic component comprises: an interface layer formation step for forming an interface layer on the substrate; and an electrode formation step for forming the copper electrode on the interface layer.

Provided is an anisotropic conductive adhesive in which excellent optical characteristics and heat dissipation characteristics are obtainable. The anisotropic conductive adhesive contains conductive particles each comprising a metal layer having Ag as a primary constituent formed on an outermost surface of a resin particle, solder particles having a smaller average particle diameter than the conductive particles, reflective insulating particles having a smaller average particle diameter than the solder particles and a binder into which the conductive particles solder particles and reflective insulating particles are dispersed. The conductive particles and the reflective insulating particles efficiently reflect light, thereby improving light-extraction efficiency of an LED mounting body. Additionally, inter-terminal solder bonding of the solder particles during compression bonding increases contact area between opposing terminals, thereby enabling achievement of high heat dissipation characteristics.

Provided is a conductor connection structure (10) in which two conductors (21, 31) are electrically connected by a copper connection part (11). The connection part (11) comprises a material containing mainly copper. The connection part (11) also comprises a plurality of holes. An organosilicon compound is present within the holes. The connection part preferably has a structure in which a plurality of gathered particles are melted and bonded together and the particles have a necking section therebetween. In addition, the connection structure (10) preferably has a structure in which a plurality of large copper particles having a relatively large particle size and a plurality of small copper particles having a particle size smaller than that of the large copper particles are melted and bonded together such that the large copper particles and the small copper particles are bonded together, the small copper particles are bonded together, and a plurality of small copper particles are positioned around one large copper particle.

Provided is an anisotropic conductive adhesive in which excellent optical characteristics and heat dissipation characteristics are obtainable. The anisotropic conductive adhesive contains conductive particles each comprising a metal layer having Ag as a primary constituent formed on an outermost surface of a resin particle, solder particles having a smaller average particle diameter than the conductive particles, reflective insulating particles having a smaller average particle diameter than the solder particles and a binder into which the conductive particles solder particles and reflective insulating particles are dispersed. The conductive particles and the reflective insulating particles efficiently reflect light, thereby improving light-extraction efficiency of an LED mounting body. Additionally, inter-terminal solder bonding of the solder particles during compression bonding increases contact area between opposing terminals, thereby enabling achievement of high heat dissipation characteristics.

A joint structure that includes a first metal member, a second metal member, and a joint portion sandwiched between the first metal member and the second metal member. At least a Cu-M-Sn intermetallic compound is dispersed in the joint portion, M is at least one of Ni and Mn, and neither a Cu.sub.3Sn layer nor a Cu.sub.6Sn.sub.5 layer is present on at least one of interfaces between the joint portion and the first metal member and the second metal member.

A solder paste includes a flux and powder mixed with the flux, where the powder includes first powder and second powder mixed with each other. The first powder may be a tin (Sn) and at least one metal dissolved in the tin (Sn), and the second powder may be a copper (Cu) powder, the surface of which is coated with silver (Ag).

A conductive paste contains at least a conductive powder, glass frit, and an organic vehicle. The conductive powder contains a noble metal powder such as an Ag powder and a base metal powder containing Cu and/or Ni, and the base metal powder has a specific surface area of less than 0.5 m.sup.2/g. The content of the base metal powder with respect to the total amount of the conductive powder is, in ratio by weight, 0.1 to 0.3 when the base metal powder contains Cu as its main constituent, 0.1 to 0.2 when the base metal powder contains Ni as its main constituent, and 0.1 to 0.25 when the base metal powder contains a mixed powder of Cu and Ni as its main constituent.