Hermetic Nano-Bonding\texttrademark and Surface Characterization for Medical Implants and Marine and Air Sensors

Sodium percolation deteriorates diabetics' ``permanent'' glucose sensors in days. Nano-Bonding\texttrademark could allow them to last over two years. Nano-Bonding grows molecules between surfaces to create a hermetic bond, and has applications in single-device medical implants, marine and air sensors, solar panels, night vision goggles, and more. Nano-Bonding [1,2] uses $\beta $-cristobalite-like Si$_{2}$O$_{4}$H$_{4}$ on Si(100) as a precursor phase to cross-bond silica and Si across 20-30 nm-wide atomic terraces. Annealing occurs below 180 $^{\circ}$C under steam pressurization. The Herbots-Atluri process [1] nucleates precursor phases like Si$_{2}$O$_{4}$H$_{4}$, which react at low temperature. Si$_{2}$O$_{4}$H$_{4}$ reacts with hydrophilic, oxygen-deficient phases, forming cross-bonding inter-phases. Surfaces are characterized after each of these steps: forming the precursor phase, nano-contacting, Nano-Bonding, and de-bonding. Bonding strength correlates to topographies measured by Tapping Mode Atomic Force Microscopy, and 3 Liquid Contact Angle Analysis with the Van Oss theory. An atomistic model is proposed. [1] US patent 6,617,637 (2003), 7,581,365 (2010). [2] N. Herbots et al. Pub. No 13/259,278, PCT/US2010/033301 (2012).