Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Nanotexturing of Surfaces to Reduce Melting Point

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1034878· OSTI ID:1034878
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Univ. of Texas at El Paso, TX (United States)
  2. Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Ciudad Juárez (Mexico)
  3. Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)

This investigation examined the use of nano-patterned structures on Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) material to reduce the bulk material melting point (1414 °C). It has been found that sharp-tipped and other similar structures have a propensity to move to the lower energy states of spherical structures and as a result exhibit lower melting points than the bulk material. Such a reduction of the melting point would offer a number of interesting opportunities for bonding in microsystems packaging applications. Nano patterning process capabilities were developed to create the required structures for the investigation. One of the technical challenges of the project was understanding and creating the specialized conditions required to observe the melting and reshaping phenomena. Through systematic experimentation and review of the literature these conditions were determined and used to conduct phase change experiments. Melting temperatures as low as 1030 C were observed.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1034878
Report Number(s):
SAND--2012-0132
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English