Target for cathodic sputtering and method for producing the target
First Claim
1. In a target for cathodic sputtering formed of hot-pressed or hot isostatic-pressed indium oxide/tin oxide powder with a minimum density of 95% of its theoretical density, and with a sub-stoichiometric oxygen content, the improvement wherein the target has a minimum of 90% by weight of a crystalline phase which is formed as a solid solution of indium oxide and tin oxide, and said powder has an average grain size ranging from 2 μ
- m to 20 μ
m.
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Abstract
The targets for cathodic sputtering according to this invention are formed of hot-pressed or hot isostatic-pressed indium oxide/tin oxide powder with a minimum density of 95% of the theoretical density and with a sub-stoichiometric oxygen content are known. In order to provide the improvement of high stability and, simultaneously, high sputtering rate, it is proposed according to the invention that the target have a crystalline phase which is formed as a solid solution of indium oxide and tin oxide with a minimum of 90% by weight, preferably a minimum of 97%, of the solid solution, and which has an average grain size ranging from 2 μm to 20 μm. In order to make available a simple and cost-efficient method for producing a target consisting of a starting powder of indium oxide/tin oxide, which allows for a precise setting of the oxygen content and a homogeneous chemical composition throughout the entire target volume, it is proposed that a starting powder be used that is produced by oxidizing finely distributed indium tin metal.
67 Citations
22 Claims
- 1. In a target for cathodic sputtering formed of hot-pressed or hot isostatic-pressed indium oxide/tin oxide powder with a minimum density of 95% of its theoretical density, and with a sub-stoichiometric oxygen content, the improvement wherein the target has a minimum of 90% by weight of a crystalline phase which is formed as a solid solution of indium oxide and tin oxide, and said powder has an average grain size ranging from 2 μ
- 11. In a method for producing a target of hot-pressed or hot isostatic-pressed indium oxide/tin oxide powder with a sub-stoichiometric oxygen content for cathodic sputtering, the method using a starting powder of indium oxide and tin oxide, and compressing the starting powder through hot-pressing or hot isostatic-pressing, the improvement wherein the starting powder is produced by sub-stoichiometrically oxidizing powdered indium tin metal to form an oxidic phase and the target has a minimum density of 95% of its theoretical density.
Specification