An aluminum-diamond composite that exhibits both high thermal conductivity and a coefficient of thermal expansion close to that of semiconductor devices, and that can suppress the occurrence of swelling, etc., of a surface metal layer portion even in actual use under a high load. An aluminum-diamond composite includes 65-80 vol % of a diamond powder having a roundness of at least 0.94, for which a first peak in a volumetric distribution of grain size lies at 5-25 m, and a second peak lies at 55-195 m, and a ratio between the area of the volumetric distribution of grain sizes of 1-35 m and the area of the volumetric distribution of grain sizes of 45-205 m is from 1:9 to 4:6; the balance being composed of a metal containing aluminum.

The invention provides a slip layer substrate which can reduce the thermal residual stresses between components induced by their mismatch of thermal expansion, thus greatly improve the reliability of electronic packages. The slip layer substrate comprises: a base material; a first metallization layer formed on the base material; a first diffusion barrier layer formed on the first metallization layer; a slip layer formed on the first diffusion barrier layer; a second diffusion barrier layer formed on the slip layer; and a second metallization layer formed on the second diffusion barrier layer.

Embodiments of the invention provide electrochemical analyte sensors having elements designed to modulate their electrochemical reactions as well as methods for making and using such sensors.

A structure includes an Sn layer or an Sn alloy layer formed above a substrate, and an under barrier metal formed between the substrate and the Sn layer or Sn alloy layer. The under barrier metal is an Ni alloy layer containing Ni, and at least one selected from W, Ir, Pt, Au, and Bi, and can sufficiently inhibit generation of an intermetallic compound through a reaction, caused due to metal diffusion of a metal contained in the substrate, between the metal and Sn contained in the Sn layer or Sn alloy layer.

A method for surface treatment of a metal material in a powder state is provided, the method including obtaining a powder formed from a plurality of particles of the metal material to be treated; and subjecting the powder to an ion implantation process by directing a beam of singly-charged or multi-charged ions towards an outer surface of the particles, the beam being produced by a source of singly-charged or multi-charged ions, whereby the particles have an overall spherical shape with a radius (R). There is also provided a material in a powder state formed from a plurality of particles having a ceramic outer layer and a metal core, the particles having an overall spherical shape.

A precious metallic laminate may include a first transparent substrate, a transparent transition layer deposited on the first transparent substrate, and a metallic layer deposited on the transparent transition layer. The metallic layer may include a precious metal. The laminate may include a second transparent substrate covering the metallic layer.