A sputtering target according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a plate-shaped target body formed of a metal material. The target body includes a target portion and a base portion. The target portion has a sputtering surface. The base portion has a cooling surface and includes a gradient strength layer, the cooling surface being positioned on a side opposite to the sputtering surface and having hardness higher than that of the sputtering surface, the gradient strength layer having tensile strength that gradually decreases from the cooling surface toward the target portion.

A ruthenium-based sputtering target having a cast structure, in which a sputter surface of the sputtering target includes at least two or more types of regions, and crystal surfaces in the regions are different from each other, each of the crystal surfaces being specified by a main peak of X-ray diffraction.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a Ru-based sputtering target having no void, having high purity and a low degree of structural anisotropy, and capable of forming a Ru-based film having low particle properties, high film thickness uniformity, and high surface uniformity, and a method for manufacturing the same. According to the present disclosure, there is provided a ruthenium-based sputtering target having a cast structure, in which a sputter surface of the sputtering target includes at least two or more types of regions, and crystal surfaces in the regions are different from each other, each of the crystal surfaces being specified by a main peak of X-ray diffraction.

A sputtering-target material (2) is composed of aluminum having a purity of 99.999 mass % or higher and unavoidable impurities. When an average crystal-grain diameter at the plate surface (21) is given as D.sub.s [μm], an average crystal-grain diameter at a depth of ¼.sup.th of the plate thickness (22) is given as D.sub.q [μm], and an average crystal-grain diameter at a depth of ½ of the plate thickness (23) is given as D.sub.c [μm], the formulas below are satisfied, and the average crystal-grain diameter changes continuously in a plate-thickness direction.
D.sub.s≤230
D.sub.q≤280
D.sub.c≤300
1.2≤D.sub.q/D.sub.s
1.3≤D.sub.c/D.sub.s

An aluminum or copper alloy sputtering chamber includes a front surface, a back surface opposite the front surface, and a sputter trap formed on at least a portion of the front surface A coating of titanium particles is formed on the sputter trap.

A cylindrical sputtering target includes a plurality of cylindrical sintered compacts adjacent to each other while having a space therebetween. The plurality of cylindrical sintered compacts have a relative density of 99.7% or higher and 99.9% or lower. The plurality of cylindrical sintered compacts adjacent to each other have a difference therebetween in the relative density of 0.1% or smaller.

A cathode assembly is provided in which, while preventing the occurrence of abnormal electric discharging between a projected portion of a backing plate and a side surface of a target, particles can be prevented from being generated. The cathode assembly for a sputtering apparatus of this invention has: a target made of an insulating material; a backing plate bonded to one surface of the target; and, where such a side of the backing plate as is on the side of the target is defined as a lower side, an annular shield plate disposed to lie opposite to the lower side of that projected portion of the backing plate which is projected outward beyond an outer peripheral end of the target. The cathode assembly has a bonding portion arranged to be protruded relative to the projected portion. An inner peripheral edge portion of the shield plate is positioned in a clearance between that extended portion of the target which is extended outward beyond the bonding portion in a state in which the target is kept bonded to the bonding portion, and the projected portion of the backing plate.

Implementations of the present disclosure relate to a sputtering target for a sputtering chamber used to process a substrate. In one implementation, a sputtering target for a sputtering chamber is provided. The sputtering target comprises a sputtering plate with a backside surface having radially inner, middle and outer regions and an annular-shaped backing plate mounted to the sputtering plate. The backside surface has a plurality of circular grooves which are spaced apart from one another and at least one arcuate channel cutting through the circular grooves and extending from the radially inner region to the radially outer region of sputtering plate. The annular-shaped backing plate defines an open annulus exposing the backside surface of the sputtering plate.

A sputtering target comprising a sputtering material and having a non-planar sputtering surface prior to erosion by use in a sputtering system, the non-planar sputtering surface having a circular shape and comprising a central axis region including a concave curvature feature at the central axis region. The central axis region having a wear profile after erosion by use in a sputtering system for at least 1000 kWhrs including a protuberance including a first outer circumferential wear surface having a first slope. A reference, protruding convex curvature feature for a reference target after sputtering use for the same time includes a second outer circumferential wear surface having a second slope. The protuberance provides a sputtered target having reduced shadowing relative to the reference, protruding convex curvature feature, wherein the first slope is less steep than a second slope.

Provided is a cylindrical sputtering target made of a metal material, which has reduced particles. The sputtering target includes at least a target material, wherein the target material comprises one or more metal elements, the target material has a crystal grain size of 50 μm or less, and the target material has an oxygen concentration of 1000 ppm by mass or less.

A sputtering target assembly for use in a vapor deposition apparatus, the sputtering target assembly comprising a sputtering surface; a sidewall extending from the sputtering surface at an angle to the sputtering surface; a particle trap formed of a roughness located along the sidewall and extending radially from the sputtering surface, wherein the roughness of the particle trap has a macrostructure and a microstructure.