A decorative member including: a color developing layer including a light reflective layer and a light absorbing layer provided on the light reflective layer; and a substrate provided on one surface of the color developing layer. The light absorbing layer includes a copper oxynitride (Cu.sub.aO.sub.bN.sub.c).

A decorative member including: a color developing layer including a light reflective layer and a light absorbing layer provided on the light reflective layer; and a substrate provided on one surface of the color developing layer. The light absorbing layer includes a copper oxynitride (Cu.sub.aO.sub.bN.sub.c).

A magnetron sputtering system includes a substrate mounted within a vacuum chamber. A plurality of cathode assemblies includes a first set of cathode assemblies and a second set of cathode assemblies, and is configured for reactive sputtering. Each cathode assembly includes a target comprising sputterable material and has an at least partially exposed planar sputtering surface. A target support is configured to support the target in the vacuum chamber and rotate the target relative to the vacuum chamber about a target axis. A magnetic field source includes a magnet array. A cathode assemblies controller assembly is operative to actuate the first set of cathode assemblies without actuating the second set of cathode assemblies, and to actuate the second set of cathode assemblies without actuating the first set of cathode assemblies.

A magnetron sputtering system includes a substrate mounted within a vacuum chamber. A plurality of cathode assemblies includes a first set of cathode assemblies and a second set of cathode assemblies, and is configured for reactive sputtering. Each cathode assembly includes a target comprising sputterable material and has an at least partially exposed planar sputtering surface. A target support is configured to support the target in the vacuum chamber and rotate the target relative to the vacuum chamber about a target axis. A magnetic field source includes a magnet array. A cathode assemblies controller assembly is operative to actuate the first set of cathode assemblies without actuating the second set of cathode assemblies, and to actuate the second set of cathode assemblies without actuating the first set of cathode assemblies.

Reactive sputter deposition method and system are disclosed, in which a catalyst gas, such as water vapor, is used to increase the overall deposition rate substantially without compromising formation of a dielectric compound layer and its optical transmission. Addition to the sputtering or reactive gas of the catalyst gas can result in an increase of a deposition rate of the dielectric oxide film substantially without increasing an optical absorption of the film.

The present invention provides methods to sputter deposit films comprising alkali metal compounds. At least one target comprising one or more alkali metal compounds and at least one metallic component is sputtered to form one or more corresponding sputtered films. The at least one target has an atomic ratio of the alkali metal compound to the at least one metallic component in the range from 15:85 to 85:15. The sputtered film(s) incorporating such alkali metal compounds are incorporated into a precursor structure also comprising one or more chalcogenide precursor films. The precursor structure is heated in the presence of at least one chalcogen to form a chalcogenide semiconductor. The resultant chalcogenide semiconductor comprises up to 2 atomic percent of alkali metal content, wherein at least a major portion of the alkali metal content of the resultant chalcogenide semiconductor is derived from the sputtered film(s) incorporating the alkali metal compound(s). The chalcogenide semiconductors are useful in microelectronic devices, including solar cells.

An Al—Sc alloy sputtering target. The target comprising from 1.0 at % to 65 at % scandium and from 35 at % to 99 at % aluminum and having a microstructure including a first aluminum matrix phase and a second phase dispersed uniformly therethrough. The second phase comprises one or more compounds corresponding to the formula Sc.sub.xAl.sub.y, where x is from 1 to 2 and y is from 0 to 3.

A method of manufacturing a copper thin film using a single-crystal copper target, and more particularly, a method of manufacturing a copper thin film using a single-crystal copper target, wherein a copper thin film is deposited on a sapphire disk substrate through high-frequency sputtering using a single-crystal copper target grown through a Czochralski process, and may thus exhibit high quality in terms of crystallinity. The method includes depositing a copper thin film on a sapphire disk substrate through a high-frequency sputtering process using a disk-shaped single-crystal copper target obtained by cutting cylindrical single-crystal copper grown through a Czochralski process.

Provided is a tantalum target, wherein, when a direction normal to a rolling surface (ND), which is a cross section perpendicular to a sputtering surface of a target, is observed via an electron backscatter diffraction pattern method, an area ratio of crystal grains of which a {100} plane is oriented in the ND is 30% or more. An object of the present invention is to provide a tantalum sputtering target in which a deposition rate can be appropriately controlled under high-power sputtering conditions. When sputter-deposition is performed using this kind of a tantalum target, it is possible to form a thin film having superior film thickness uniformity and improve the productivity of the thin film formation process, even for micro wiring.

Provided is a tantalum target, wherein, when a direction normal to a rolling surface (ND), which is a cross section perpendicular to a sputtering surface of a target, is observed via an electron backscatter diffraction pattern method, an area ratio of crystal grains of which a {100} plane is oriented in the ND is 30% or more. An object of the present invention is to provide a tantalum sputtering target in which a deposition rate can be appropriately controlled under high-power sputtering conditions. When sputter-deposition is performed using this kind of a tantalum target, it is possible to form a thin film having superior film thickness uniformity and improve the productivity of the thin film formation process, even for micro wiring.