IP Library Granted Patent US 9,660,127
Granted Patent B2
US 9,660,127 · App. 14/111,520 · Granted May 23, 2017

Sputtering target and method for producing same

Inventors: Shoubin Zhang (Sanda, JP); Masahiro Shoji (Sandi, JP)
Assignees: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION; SOLAR FRONTIER K.K.
H01L31/18B22F3/15C22C1/0425C22C9/00C23C14/3414H01L31/0322B22F2999/00Y02E10/541Y02P70/521
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,660,127
App. No.
14/111,520
Granted
May 23, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Provided are a sputtering target that is capable of forming a Cu—Ga film, which has an added Ga concentration of 1 to 40 at % and into which Na is well added, by a sputtering method and a method for producing the sputtering target. The sputtering target has a component composition that contains 1 to 40 at % of Ga, 0.05 to 2 at % of Na as metal element components other than F, S and Se, and the balance composed of Cu and unavoidable impurities. The sputtering target contains Na in at least one form selected from among sodium fluoride, sodium sulfide, and sodium selenide, and has a content of oxygen of from 100 to 1,000 ppm.

Claims (15)

1. A sputtering target having a component composition that contains 1 to 40 at % of Ga, 0.05 to 2 at % of Na as metal element components, and the balance composed of Cu and unavoidable impurities, wherein the sputtering target contains Na in at least one form selected from among sodium fluoride, sodium sulfide, and sodium selenide and the content of oxygen is from 100 to 1,000 ppm.

2. The sputtering target according to claim 1 , wherein the sputtering target has a structure in which at least one selected from among a NaF compound phase, a Na 2 S compound phase, and a Na 2 Se compound phase is dispersed in a target material and the average particle diameter of the NaF compound phase, the Na 2 S compound phase, and the Na 2 Se compound phase is 5 μm or less.

3. The sputtering target according to claim 1 , wherein the average crystal particle size of a metal phase in the target material after sintering is from 10 to 100 μm.

4. A method for producing the sputtering target according to claim 1 , the method comprising:

drying at least one selected from among a NaF compound powder, a Na 2 S compound powder, and a Na 2 Se compound powder at a temperature of 120° C. or higher; and

sintering a formed product consisting of a mixed powder of at least one selected from among the dried NaF compound powder, the dried Na 2 S compound powder, and the dried Na 2 Se compound powder, and a Cu—Ga alloy powder, or a formed product consisting of a mixed powder of at least one selected from among the dried NaF compound powder, the dried Na 2 S compound powder, and the dried Na 2 Se compound powder, a Cu—Ga alloy powder, and a Cu powder in a vacuum, in an inert gas atmosphere, or in a reducing atmosphere.

5. A method for producing the sputtering target according to claim 1 , the method comprising:

drying at least one selected from among a NaF compound powder, a Na 2 S compound powder, and a Na 2 Se compound powder at a temperature of 120° C. or higher; and

hot pressing a mixed powder of at least one selected from among the dried NaF compound powder, the dried Na 2 S compound powder, the dried Na 2 Se compound powder, and a Cu—Ga alloy powder, or a mixed powder of at least one selected from among the dried NaF compound powder, the dried Na 2 S compound powder, and the dried Na 2 Se compound powder, a Cu—Ga alloy powder, and a Cu powder in a vacuum or an inert gas atmosphere.

6. A method for producing the sputtering target according to claim 1 , the method comprising:

drying at least one selected from among a NaF compound powder, a Na 2 S compound powder, and a Na 2 Se compound powder at a temperature of 120° C. or higher; and

sintering a mixed powder of at least one selected from among the dried NaF compound powder, the dried Na 2 S compound powder, the dried Na 2 Se compound powder, and a Cu—Ga alloy powder, or a mixed powder of at least one selected from among the dried NaF compound powder, the dried Na 2 S compound powder, and the dried Na 2 Se compound powder, a Cu—Ga alloy powder, and a Cu powder by hot isostatic pressing.

7. The method for producing a sputtering target according to claim 4 , wherein the formed product is sintered at a temperature of 700 to 950° C.

8. The method for producing a sputtering target according to claim 5 , wherein the hot pressing is performed at a temperature of 500 to 900° C.

9. The method for producing a sputtering target according to claim 6 , wherein the hot isostatic pressing is performed at a temperature of 500 to 900° C.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 28, 2015
From: SHOWA SHELL SEKIYU K.K.
To: SOLAR FRONTIER K.K.
Reel/Frame 034826/0823 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 16, 2013
From: ZHANG, SHOUBIN; SHOJI, MASAHIRO
To: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION; SHOWA SHELL SEKIYU K.K.
Reel/Frame 031417/0204 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2011-102587 · Apr 29, 2011 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20140034491A1 · Feb 6, 2014