US Patent 8173259 - Nanoparticle layers with CTE compensation

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/8173259.html

Mismatch of coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) is a significant problem when attempting to interface silicon and polymer or organic substrates. This patent from Intel teaches how providing a gradient of nanoparticles can provide an interface to avoid problems from CTE mismatch. Claim 1 reads:

1. A structure comprising:

a first layer of at least one of a plurality of functionalized nanoparticles and polymer material disposed on a substrate, wherein the first layer comprises a physical property; and

a second layer of at least one of a plurality of functionalized nanoparticles and polymer material disposed on the first layer,

wherein the first layer comprises the physical property, and wherein at least one of the first layer and the second layer of functionalized nanoparticles comprises metallic functionalized nanoparticles; and

a property gradient extending from the first layer to the second layer.