Bonded surfaces are formed by adhering first nanorods and second nanorods to respective first and second surfaces. The first shell is formed on the first nanorods and the second shell is formed on the second nanorods, wherein at least one of the first nanorods and second nanorods, and the first shell and the second shell are formed of distinct metals. The surfaces are then exposed to at least one condition that causes the distinct metals to form an alloy, such as eutectic alloy having a melting point below the temperature at which the alloy is formed, thereby bonding the surfaces upon which solidification of the alloy.

Solid metal foam thermal interface materials and their uses in electronics assembly are described. In one implementation, a method includes: applying a thermal interface material (TIM) between a first device and a second device to form an assembly having a first surface of the TIM in in touching relation with a surface of the first device, and a second surface of the TIM opposite the first surface in touching relation with a surface of the second device, the TIM comprising a solid metal foam and a first liquid metal; and compressing the assembly to form an alloy from the TIM that bonds the first device to the second device.

Disclosed are exemplary methods for controlling or manipulating bond line thickness for metal amalgams including filler particles (e.g., metal amalgam thermal interface materials (TIMs), etc.) through shearing, sonication, and/or vibration of the metal amalgam under pressure to achieve lower bond line thicknesses. In an exemplary method, a metal amalgam including filler particles may be used as a thermal interface material between a heat source and another component of an electronic device, whereby the metal amalgam has a bond line thickness of less than 100 micrometers.

Liquid metal thermal interface materials and their uses in electronics assembly are described. In one implementation, a semiconductor assembly includes: a semiconductor die; a heat exchanger; and a thermal interface material (TIM) alloy bonding the semiconductor die to the heat exchanger without using a separate metallization layer on a surface of the semiconductor die or a surface of the heat exchanger. The TIM alloy may be formed by placing a TIM material between the semiconductor die and the heat exchanger, the TIM material comprising a first liquid metal foam in touching relation with the surface of the semiconductor die, a second liquid metal foam in touching relation with the surface of the heat exchanger.