Methods and structures are provided for electrically coupling a conductor
and a conductive element containing a dissimilar material. A method for
electrically coupling a first element containing a first conductive
material to a conductor formed of a dissimilar second material includes
cladding a second conductive element with the conductor. The second
element contains a facilitator material that facilitates the melting of
the dissimilar material. A third element containing a third conductive
material that is metallurgically compatible with the facilitator material
is cladded with a fourth element containing a fourth conductive material
that is metallurgically compatible with the first conductive material to
form a connector. The fourth element is welded to the first element and
the second element is welded to the third element.