A method includes providing a first and a second joining partner each having a first main surface, wherein at least a portion of the first main surfaces of the first and joining partners each comprise a metal layer. The method further includes applying a plurality of solder preforms to the metal layer of the first main surface of at least one of the first and second joining partners, positioning the first and second joining partners so that the solder preforms contact the metal layers of the first main surfaces of the first and second joining partners, and melting the plurality of solder preforms under pressure to form a single continuous thin layer area interconnect comprising a diffusion solder bond which bonds together the metal layers of the of the first main surfaces of the first and second joining partners.