A monolithic substrate including a silica material fused to bulk copper is provided for coupling with electronic components, along with methods for making the same. The method includes arranging a base mixture in a die mold. The base mixture includes a bottom portion with copper micron powder and an upper portion with copper nanoparticles. The method includes arranging a secondary mixture on the upper portion of the base mixture. The secondary mixture includes a bottom portion with silica-coated copper nanoparticles and an upper portion with silica nanoparticles. The method includes heating and compressing the base mixture and the secondary mixture in the die mold at a temperature, pressure, and time sufficient to sinter and fuse the base mixture with the secondary mixture to form a monolithic substrate. The resulting monolithic substrate defines a first major surface providing thermal conductivity, and a second major surface providing an electrically resistive surface.

A method for manufacturing a thin sheet-like bonding member, including applying a paste including first particles including a first metal, second particles including a second metal having a lower melting point than the first metal, and a solvent to a surface of a base material made of a substance that does not react with the second metal; heating the paste at a temperature lower than a melting point of the first metal and higher than the melting point of the second metal to form a thin sheet-like bonding member on the surface of the base material; and peeling the thin sheet-like bonding member from the base material to obtain the thin sheet-like bonding member.

Disclosed herein are methods for electrolessly coating copper onto a chromium metal powder, the method comprising adding a nickel-coated chromium powder to an aqueous electroless copper plating bath comprising a source of copper cations, a copper-cation complexing agent, a copper-cation reducing agent, and a first base, thereby forming a copper-coated chromium metal powder. Also disclosed are copper-coated chromium metal powders prepared by a disclosed method.

Disclosed herein are methods for electrolessly coating copper onto a chromium metal powder, the method comprising adding a nickel-coated chromium powder to an aqueous electroless copper plating bath comprising a source of copper cations, a copper-cation complexing agent, a copper-cation reducing agent, and a first base, thereby forming a copper-coated chromium metal powder. Also disclosed are copper-coated chromium metal powders prepared by a disclosed method.

Disclosed herein are methods for electrolessly coating copper onto a chromium metal powder, the method comprising adding a nickel-coated chromium powder to an aqueous electroless copper plating bath comprising a source of copper cations, a copper-cation complexing agent, a copper-cation reducing agent, and a first base, thereby forming a copper-coated chromium metal powder. Also disclosed are copper-coated chromium metal powders prepared by a disclosed method.

Desirable methods for larger scale silver nanoplate synthesis are described along with methods for applying a noble metal coating onto the silver nanoplates to form coated silver nanoplates with a desirable absorption spectrum. The silver nanoplates are suitable for use in coatings for altering the hue of a transparent film. The hue adjustment can be particularly desirable for transparent conductive films.

Desirable methods for larger scale silver nanoplate synthesis are described along with methods for applying a noble metal coating onto the silver nanoplates to form coated silver nanoplates with a desirable absorption spectrum. The silver nanoplates are suitable for use in coatings for altering the hue of a transparent film. The hue adjustment can be particularly desirable for transparent conductive films.

A method of producing composites of micro-engineered, coated particulates embedded in a matrix of metal, ceramic powders, or combinations thereof, capable of being tailored to exhibit application-specific desired thermal, physical and mechanical properties, such as High Altitude Exo-atmospheric Nuclear Standard (HAENS) I, II or III radiation protection, to form substitute materials for nickel, titanium, rhenium, magnesium, aluminum, graphite epoxy, and beryllium. The particulates are solid and/or hollow and may be coated with one or more layers of deposited materials before being combined within a substrate of powder metal, ceramic or some combination thereof which also may be coated. The combined micro-engineered nano design powder is consolidated using novel solid-state processes that prevent melting of the matrix and which involve the application of varying pressures to control the formation of the microstructure and resultant mechanical properties.

A method of producing composites of micro-engineered, coated particulates embedded in a matrix of metal, ceramic powders, or combinations thereof, capable of being tailored to exhibit application-specific desired thermal, physical and mechanical properties, such as High Altitude Exo-atmospheric Nuclear Standard (HAENS) I, II or III radiation protection, to form substitute materials for nickel, titanium, rhenium, magnesium, aluminum, graphite epoxy, and beryllium. The particulates are solid and/or hollow and may be coated with one or more layers of deposited materials before being combined within a substrate of powder metal, ceramic or some combination thereof which also may be coated. The combined micro-engineered nano design powder is consolidated using novel solid-state processes that prevent melting of the matrix and which involve the application of varying pressures to control the formation of the microstructure and resultant mechanical properties.

Fluorescent bimetallic nanocomposites (M.sub.1@M.sub.2-NCs) of silver-gold (Ag@Au-NC) and silver-platinum (Ag@Pt-NC) are prepared by reducing silver nitrate (AgNO.sub.3) on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) using sodium borohydride (NaBH.sub.4) at alkaline pH=11, in the presence of a lysozyme that acts as a template, and in the presence of a capping and stabilizing agent. The biocompatible bimetallic nanocomposites (M.sub.1@M.sub.2-NCs) have promising multifunctional applications (cell imaging, bio-sensing, therapeutics) observed by both in vitro as well as in vivo experiments. The fluorescent bimetallic nanocomposites (M.sub.1@M.sub.2-NCs) of silver-gold (Ag@Au-NC) and silver-platinum (Ag@Pt-NC) may be useful as an alternative nanomedicine in cancer theranostics applications.