A sputtering target comprising a target insert comprising a target metal compound and a skirt structure including a primary skirt and a secondary skirt. The primary skirt is disposed adjacent least a portion of a secondary skirt and comprises a first metal compound. The secondary skirt comprises a second metal compound that is different from the first metal compound.

A method of manufacturing a crystalline layer of material on a surface, the crystalline layer including lithium, at least one transition metal and at least one counter-ion. The method includes the following steps: generating a plasma using a remote plasma generator, plasma sputtering material from a first target including lithium onto a surface of or supported by a substrate, there being at least a first plume corresponding to trajectories of particles from the first target onto the surface, and plasma sputtering material from a second target including at least one transition metal onto the surface, there being at least a second plume corresponding to trajectories of particles from the second target onto the surface. The first target is positioned to be non-parallel with the second target, the first plume and the second plume converge at a region proximate to the surface of or supported by the substrate, and the crystalline layer is formed on the surface at the region.

A sputter deposition apparatus including: a remote plasma generation arrangement arranged to provide a plasma for sputter deposition of target material within a sputter deposition zone; a confining arrangement arranged to provide a confining magnetic field to substantially confine the plasma in the sputter deposition zone a substrate provided within the sputter deposition zone; and one or more target support assemblies arranged to support one or more targets in the sputter deposition zone so as to provide for sputter deposition of the target material on the substrate. The confining arrangement confines the remote plasma to the target support assemblies such that in use there is deposited: target material as a first region on the substrate; target material as a second region on the substrate; and an intermediate region between the first and second region with no target material.

Certain examples described herein relate to a sputter deposition apparatus including a guiding member to guide a substrate in a conveyance direction, a plasma source to generate a plasma, and a magnet arrangement. The magnet arrangement is configured to confine the plasma within the apparatus to a pre-treatment zone, within which the substrate is exposed to the plasma in use. The magnet arrangement is also configured to confine the plasma within the apparatus to a sputter deposition zone, located after the pre-treatment zone in the conveyance direction, to provide for sputter deposition of a target material to the substrate in use. The pre-treatment and sputter deposition zones are disposed about the guiding member.

A sputter deposition apparatus including: a plasma generation arrangement arranged to provide single plasma for sputter deposition of target material within a sputter deposition zone; a conveyor system arranged to convey a substrate through the sputter deposition zone in a conveyance direction; and one or more target support assemblies arranged to support one or more targets in the sputter deposition zone so as to provide for sputter deposition of the target material on the substrate utilising the plasma such that as the substrate is conveyed through the sputter deposition zone in use there is deposited: a first stripe on the substrate; and a second stripe on the substrate. The first stripe includes at least one of: a different density of the target material or a different composition of the target material than the second stripe.

A sputter deposition apparatus including: a remote plasma generation arrangement arranged to provide a plasma for sputter deposition of target material within a sputter deposition zone; a confining arrangement arranged to provide a confining magnetic field to substantially confine the plasma in the sputter deposition zone a substrate provided within the sputter deposition zone; and one or more target support assemblies arranged to support one or more targets in the sputter deposition zone so as to provide for sputter deposition of the target material on the substrate. The confining arrangement confines the remote plasma to the target support assemblies such that in use there is deposited: target material as a first region on the substrate; target material as a second region on the substrate; and an intermediate region between the first and second region including a blend of target materials.

Disclosed is a method of fabricating a resistive switching memory. A method of fabricating a resistive switching memory according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a step of forming a lower electrode on a substrate; a step of forming a resistive switching layer on the lower electrode using sputtering; and a step of forming an upper electrode on the resistive switching layer, wherein, in the step of forming a resistive switching layer on the lower electrode using sputtering, the substrate is disposed in a region, which is not reached by plasma generated by the first and second targets, between the first target and the second target disposed above the substrate to deposit the resistive switching layer.

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.

Some embodiments provide a magnetron sputtering apparatus including a vacuum chamber within which a controlled environment may be established, a target comprising one or more sputterable materials, wherein the target includes a racetrack-shaped sputtering zone that extends longitudinally along a longitudinal axis and comprises a straightaway area sandwiched between a first turnaround area and a second turnaround area, a gas distribution system that supplies a first gas mixture to the first turnaround area and/or the second turnaround area and supplies a second gas mixture to the straightaway area, wherein the first gas mixture reduces a sputtering rate relative to the second gas mixture. In some cases, the first gas mixture includes inert gas having a first atomic weight and the second gas mixture includes inert gas having a second atomic weight, wherein the second atomic weight is heavier than the first atomic weight.

An apparatus for sputter deposition of material on a substrate. The apparatus includes a deposition chamber and a cathode array mounted in the deposition chamber. The array has three or more rotating cathodes. Each cathode has a cylindric target of equal target length L.sub.T and a magnetic system. The cathodes are spaced from one another such that their longitudinal axes Y.sub.Cj are arranged parallel to each other, in a distance T.sub.SD from a substrate plane S, and spaced apart along a projection of a substrate axis X in a distance T.sub.TT, whereat each cathode of the cathode array includes a magnetic system. The magnetic system of at least one cathode is swivel mounted round respective cathode axis Y.sub.Cj to swivel the magnetic system into and out of a swivel plane P.sub.TS. A pedestal is designed to support at least one substrate of maximal dimensions x*y to be coated in a static way. The pedestal is positioned in the deposition chamber in front of and centered with reference to the cathode array. At least one pulsed power supply is configured for supplying and controlling a power to at least one of the cathodes.