U.S. patent number RE44,239 [Application Number 11/430,299] was granted by the patent office on 2013-05-28 for electrode and its fabrication method for semiconductor devices, and sputtering target for forming electrode film for semiconductor devices.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Kobelco Research Institute, Inc.. The grantee listed for this patent is Eiji Iwamura, Takashi Oonishi, Katsutoshi Takagi, Seigo Yamamoto, Kazuo Yoshikawa. Invention is credited to Eiji Iwamura, Takashi Oonishi, Katsutoshi Takagi, Seigo Yamamoto, Kazuo Yoshikawa.
United States Patent |
RE44,239 |
Yamamoto , et al. |
May 28, 2013 |
Electrode and its fabrication method for semiconductor devices, and
sputtering target for forming electrode film for semiconductor
devices
Abstract
Disclosed is an electrode for semiconductor devices capable of
suppressing the generation of hillocks and reducing the
resistivity, which is suitable for an active matrixed liquid
crystal display and the like in which a thin film transistor is
used; its fabrication method; and a sputtering target for forming
the electrode film for semiconductor devices. The electrode for
semiconductor devices is made of an Al alloy containing the one or
more alloying elements selected from Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh and Ir, in
a total amount from 0.1 to 10 At %, or one or more alloying
elements selected from rare earth elements, in a total amount from
0.05 to 15 at %. The method of fabricating an electrode for
semiconductor devices, includes the steps of: depositing an Al
alloy film, in which the elements mentioned above are dissolved in
an Al matrix, on a substrate; and precipitating part of all of the
elements dissolved in the Al matrix as intermetallic compounds by
annealing the Al alloy film at an annealing temperature ranging
from 150 to 400.degree. C.; whereby an electrode for semiconductor
devices which is made of an Al alloy film with an electrical
resistivity lower than 20 .mu..OMEGA.cm is obtained. The target is
made of an Al alloy containing the above elements.
Inventors: |
Yamamoto; Seigo (Kobe,
JP), Takagi; Katsutoshi (Kobe, JP),
Iwamura; Eiji (Kobe, JP), Yoshikawa; Kazuo (Kobe,
JP), Oonishi; Takashi (Kobe, JO) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Yamamoto; Seigo
Takagi; Katsutoshi
Iwamura; Eiji
Yoshikawa; Kazuo
Oonishi; Takashi |
Kobe
Kobe
Kobe
Kobe
Kobe |
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A |
JP
JP
JP
JP
JO |
|
|
Assignee: |
Kobelco Research Institute,
Inc. (Kobe-shi, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
16158642 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/430,299 |
Filed: |
May 9, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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08281028 |
Jul 27, 1994 |
5514909 |
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Reissue of: |
08754693 |
Dec 19, 1995 |
6033542 |
Mar 7, 2000 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jul 27, 1993 [JP] |
|
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5-184747 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
204/298.13;
428/650; 148/415; 420/528; 204/298.12; 148/437; 420/416 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01L
23/53219 (20130101); H01L 21/2855 (20130101); Y10T
428/12736 (20150115); H01L 2924/0002 (20130101); H01L
2924/0002 (20130101); H01L 2924/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
C23C
14/34 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;204/298.12,298.13
;148/415,437 ;420/528,416 ;428/650 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
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06-333926 |
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Dec 1994 |
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JP |
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598458 |
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Jul 1979 |
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RU |
|
92/13360 |
|
Aug 1992 |
|
WO |
|
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|
Primary Examiner: McDonald; Rodney
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Oblon, Spivak, McClelland, Maier
& Neustadt, L.L.P.
Parent Case Text
This is a Division, of application Ser. No. 08/281,028 filed on
Jul. 27, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,514,909.
Claims
What is claimed is:
.[.1. A sputtering target consisting of an alloy of Al and 0.05-15
at % Nd..].
.[.2. The sputtering target of claim 1, containing 0.05-9 at %
Nd..].
.[.3. The sputtering target of claim 1, containing 0.05-6 at %
Nd..].
.[.4. The sputtering target of claim 1, containing 0.05-4.28 at %
Nd..].
.[.5. The sputtering target of claim 1, containing no
scandium..].
.Iadd.6. A sputtering target consisting of an alloy of Al and
0.05-15 at % Nd wherein said sputtering target is produced by a
method comprising: melting Al and Nd under vacuum; and adjusting
the content of Nd in an Al matrix to be in a range of 0.05 to 15 at
%; and allowing the alloy of Al and Nd to solidify..Iaddend.
.Iadd.7. The sputtering target of claim 6, containing 0.05-9 at %
Nd..Iaddend.
.Iadd.8. The sputtering target of claim 6, containing 0.05-6 at %
Nd..Iaddend.
.Iadd.9. The sputtering target of claim 6, containing 0.05-4.28 at
% Nd..Iaddend.
.Iadd.10. The sputtering target of claim 6, containing no
scandium..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrode for semiconductor
devices, its fabrication method, and a sputtering target for
forming an electrode film for semiconductor devices, and
particularly to an electrode for semiconductor devices which is
suitable for an electrode (interconnections and electrode itself)
of an active matrixed liquid crystal display having a thin film
transistor, and its fabrication method.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display (hereinafter, referred to as "LCD") is
excellent in thinning, lightening and power-saving compared with
conventional displays using a cathode-ray tube, and further it is
capable of obtaining a high resolution image. Furthermore, to
improve the image quality, there is proposed an LCD with a thin
film transistor (hereinafter, referred to as "TFT") as a switching
element. Here, the TFT means an active element composed of a
semiconducting film formed on an insulating substrate such as
glass, to which an electrode made of a thin metal film
(interconnection and electrode itself) is connected. An electrode
for semiconductor devices is used as part of a TFT, and the term
"electrode" as used herein is intended to refer to both
interconnections and the electrode itself. In the TFT, the
interconnections and the electrode are electrically connected to
each other.
Various properties are required for an electrode for semiconductor
devices used for the LCD mentioned above. In the tendency toward
larger display size and higher resolution of LCDS, particularly,
the lowering of the resistivity becomes most important for
suppressing the delay of a signal. For example, in a color LCD with
more than 10-inch large display, the resistivity (electrical
resistance) of an electrode for semiconductor devices is required
to be lower than 20 .mu..OMEGA.cm.
Refractory metals such as Ta, Mo, Cr and Ti are used as the
electrode materials for LCDs with TFTs (hereinafter referred to as
"TFT-LCD"). However, the metals have high resistivities in the thin
film state; about 180 .mu..OMEGA.cm (Ta), about 50 .mu..OMEGA.cm
(Mo), about 50 .mu..OMEGA.cm (Cr), and about 80 .mu..OMEGA.cm (Ti).
The resistivities of all these metals greatly exceeds the value of
20 .mu..OMEGA.cm. Accordingly, to achieve a larger size and higher
resolution of TFT-LCDs, there has been required a new electrode
material for semiconductor devices having a low resistivity (lower
than 20 .mu..OMEGA.cm).
The electrode material for semiconductor devices having a low
resistivity may include Au, Cu and Al. Au is difficult to etch,
which property is required to form a specified pattern after
deposition of the film, that is, electrode film, and it is
expensive. Cu is poor in its adhesiveness to substrates and in
corrosion resistance. Both metals are not practical. On the other
hand, Al is insufficient in thermal stability, and has a
disadvantage in generating fine protrusions called hillocks on the
surface of an electrode film during a heating process after
deposition of the electrode film which is inevitable for the TFT
fabrication process. In general, in the TFT-LCD, the electrode film
becomes the bottom layer, so that when hillocks are generated, it
is impossible to deposit a film thereon.
To suppress the generation of hillocks on an Al electrode film,
there has been adopted a technique wherein the heating is performed
after a high strength film, such as the refractory metals, is
deposited on the Al electrode film. However, in this technique,
films with different etching properties must be simultaneously
etched, so that it becomes difficult to obtain a good
interconnection pattern. Accordingly, there has been required an
electrode material for semiconductor devices used for TFT-LCDs
capable of suppressing the generation of hillocks and reducing the
resistivity (lower than 20 .mu..OMEGA.cm).
Although the present state (prior art, problem and requirement) of
an electrode for semiconductor devices of TFT-LCDs has been
described, the electrode for semiconductor devices is used not only
for the TFT-LCD, but also for the electrode and interconnections of
an Si semiconductor represented by a Large Scale Integrated Circuit
(hereinafter referred to as "LSI"). Problems in the electrode used
for the LSI is the same as that of the TFT-LCD. Accordingly, there
has also been required an electrode material for semiconductor
devices used for LSIs capable of suppressing the generation of
hillocks and reducing the resistivity (lower than 20
.mu..OMEGA.cm).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A purpose of the present invention is to provide an electrode for
semiconductor devices with less tendency to generate hillocks and
has a resistivity lower than 20 .mu..OMEGA.cm. Another purpose of
the present invention is to provide a method of fabricating the
electrode for semiconductor devices mentioned above and a
sputtering target for forming the electrode film for semiconductor
devices.
The goal mentioned above can be achieved by provision of an
electrode for semiconductor devices, its fabrication method, and a
sputtering target for forming an electrode film for semiconductor
devices.
According to one embodiment of the invention, an electrode for
semiconductor devices is made of an Al alloy containing one or more
alloying elements selected from Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh and Ir in a
total amount from 0.1 to 10 at %. According to a second embodiment
of the invention, an electrode for semiconductor devices is made of
an Al alloy containing one or more alloying elements selected from
rare earth elements in a total amount from 0.05 to 15 at %.
According to a third embodiment of the invention, an electrode for
semiconductor devices according to the first or second embodiments
of the invention is formed by a sputtering process. According to a
fourth embodiment of the invention, an electrode for semiconductor
devices according to the first or second embodiment of the
invention is used as an electrode for semiconductor devices in a
liquid crystal display. According to a fifth embodiment of the
invention, in an electrode for semiconductor devices according to
any of the first four embodiments, the electric resistance of the
Al alloy is adjusted to be lower than 20 .mu..OMEGA.cm by
precipitating part or all of the alloying elements dissolved in the
Al matrix as intermetallic compounds.
According to a sixth embodiment of the invention, a method of
fabricating an electrode for semiconductor devices, includes the
steps of: depositing an Al alloy film, in which one or more
alloying elements selected from Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh and Ir are
dissolved in Al matrix, on a substrate; and precipitating part or
all of the elements dissolved in the Al matrix as intermetallic
compounds by annealing the Al alloy film at an annealing
temperature ranging from 150 to 400.degree. C.; whereby an
electrode for semiconductor devices which is made of an Al alloy
film having an electrical resistivity lower than 20 .mu..OMEGA.cm
is obtained. According to a seventh embodiment of the invention, a
method of fabricating an electrode for semiconductor devices
includes the steps of: depositing an Al alloy film, in which one or
more rare earth elements are dissolved in Al matrix, on a
substrate; and precipitating part or all of the elements dissolved
in the Al matrix as intermetallic compounds by annealing the Al
alloy film at a annealing temperature ranging from 150 to
400.degree. C.; whereby an electrode for semiconductor devices
which is made of an Al alloy film having an electrical resistivity
lower than 20 .mu..OMEGA.cm is obtained.
According to an eighth embodiment of the invention, a sputtering
target for forming an electrode for semiconductor devices, which is
used for depositing an Al alloy film on a substrate according to
the sixth embodiment of the invention, is made of an Al alloy
containing one or more alloying elements selected from Fe, Co, Ru,
Rh and Ir.
According to a ninth embodiment of the invention, a sputtering
target for forming an electrode for semiconductor devices, which is
used for depositing an Al alloy film on a substrate according to
the seventh embodiment of the invention, is made of an Al alloy
containing one or more rare earth elements.
As used in this application, rare earth elements are intended to
include yttrium (Y), as well as the lanthanoid elements. The
lanthanoid elements contain elements from La, of atomic number 57,
to Lu, of atomic number 71, in the periodic table.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows the relationship between the content of each alloy
element and the resistivity before annealing on Al alloy films for
an electrode for semiconductor devices referring to the first
example;
FIG. 2 shows the relationship between the content of each alloy
element and the resistivity after annealing on Al alloy films for
an electrode for semiconductor devices referring to the first
example;
FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the annealing temperature and
the resistivity on Al alloy films for an electrode for
semiconductor devices referring to the second example;
FIG. 4 shows the relationship between the content of each alloy
element and the hillock density on Al alloy films for an electrode
for semiconductor devices referring to the third example;
FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the content of each rare
earth element and the resistivity on Al alloy films for an
electrode for semiconductor devices referring to the fourth
example;
FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the content of each rare
earth element and the resistivity on Al alloy films for an
electrode for semiconductor devices referring to the fifth
example;
FIG. 7 shows the relationship between the annealing temperature and
the resistivity on Al alloy films {alloying element: Y, La, Nd} for
an electrode for semiconductor devices referring to the sixth
example;
FIG. 8 shows the relationship between the annealing temperature and
the resistivity on Al alloy films {alloying element: Gd, Tb, Dy}
for an electrode for semiconductor devices referring to the sixth
example; and
FIG. 9 shows the relationship between the annealing temperature and
the hillock density on Al alloy films for an electrode for
semiconductor devices referring to the seventh example.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present inventors have carried out experiments, in which an Al
alloy film was deposited by sputtering using a sputtering target of
an Al alloy with various added elements, and the compositions and
properties as an electrode film were examined. From these
experiments, the present inventors have found the following. An Al
alloy film containing one or more elements selected from Fe, Co,
Ni, Ru, Rh and Ir (hereinafter, referred to as "Fe, etc."), or one
or more rare earth elements (hereinafter, referred to as "REM") has
excellent thermal stability, and less tendency to generate hillocks
during heating after deposition (that is, after formation of an
electrode film), and further is reduced in resistivity after the
heating process. Consequently, the above Al alloy film can satisfy
the requirements of a high thermal stability (high hillock
resistance) and a low resistivity, before and after the heating
process (or upon heating). In particular, by positively utilizing
the heating process as the heat treatment, and adjusting the
annealing temperature, it becomes possible to obtain an Al alloy
film satisfying the above requirements by selecting the most
suitable heating condition. The present invention is the result of
this knowledge.
In an Al alloy film containing Fe, etc. or REM, as the contents of
Fe, etc., or REM are larger, the film is greatly reinforced by the
so-called solid-solution effect of the elements and is thereby
improved in thermal stability. As a result, less hillocks on such
an Al film are generated during heating after deposition (after
formation of electrode film). However, such an Al alloy film having
improved thermal stability (high hillock resistance) is
simultaneously reduced in resistivity by the so-called
solid-solution effect. Namely, the Al alloy film does not satisfy
the requirement of specified resistance lower than 20
.mu..OMEGA.cm.
However, by annealing the Al alloy film, elements (Fe, etc. or REM)
dissolved in an Al matrix are precipitated as intermetallic
compounds, so that the total volume of the elements in
solid-solution, which causes an increase in resistivity, is
reduced, as a result of which the resistivity becomes lower than 20
.mu..OMEGA.cm. Therefore, the Al alloy film containing Fe, etc, or
REM can satisfy the requirements of a high thermal stability (high
hillock resistance) and a low resistivity before and after the
annealing, after deposition. In particular, by utilizing the
annealing as the heat treatment for positively precipitating
intermetallic compounds, and adjusting the total volume of the
elements dissolved in the Al matrix after the heat-treatment
through adjustment of the annealing temperature, the Al alloy film
can satisfy each requirement by selecting the most suitable heating
condition.
The contents of Fe, etc. are required to be in the range from 0.1
to 10 at %. When the contents of Fe, etc. are less than 0.1 at %,
the Al alloy film is poor in thermal stability because the volume
of the elements dissolved in the Al matrix is small, and it is
possible to generate hillocks in the annealing. When the contents
of Fe, etc. are more than 10 at %, it is difficult to satisfy the
requirement of specific resistance lower than 20 .mu..OMEGA.cm
because the total volume of the elements dissolved in Al matrix is
large, even by adjustment of the total volume of the elements
dissolved in the Al matrix after the annealing (adjustment of the
annealing temperature). In addition, when the contents of Fe, etc.
are 5 at % or less, the resistivity becomes lower than 20
.mu..OMEGA.cm by the usual heating process after deposition of an
electrode film or without heating. In this regard, the content of
Fe, etc. is preferably specified to be in the range from 0.1 to 5
at %. On the other hand, the contents of REM are required to be in
the range from 0.05 to 15 at %. The reason for this is the same as
the reason described with respect to the contents of Fe, etc. When
the content of REM is less than 0.05 at %, the Al alloy film may
generate hillocks; and when they are more than 15 at %, it is
difficult to satisfy the requirement of resistivity lower than 20
.mu..OMEGA.cm.
An electrode for semiconductor devices according to the present
invention is made of an Al alloy containing Fe, etc. in the total
amount from 0.1 to 10 at %, or REM in the total amount from 0.05 to
15 at %, and therefore, the electrode is less likely to generate
hillocks and satisfies the requirement of resistivity lower than 20
.mu..OMEGA.cm.
The electrode for semiconductor devices according to the present
invention has such excellent properties, and is suitably used for
an electrode for semiconductor devices in LCDs, equivalent to an Al
alloy film described in the third embodiment of the invention.
An Al alloy used for an electrode for semiconductor devices
according to the present invention is desirable to be deposited by
sputtering. The reason for this is as follows: Namely, Fe, etc. and
REM have extremely small solubility limits in Al in the equilibrium
state. However, for Al alloy films deposited by sputtering,
equivalent to an electrode for semiconductor devices described in
the second embodiment of the invention, Fe, etc. and REM can be
dissolved in solid solution by sputtering (by vapor phase rapid
quenching). Accordingly, the Al alloy film can be significantly
improved in properties such as thermal stability compared with the
Al alloy film formed by the other method.
The Al alloy of an electrode for semiconductor devices according to
the present invention is first deposited by the sputtering
mentioned above or the like. At this time (that is, in the
intermediate state), all or part of the alloying elements are in
the solid-solution state. At the subsequent heating process or
after the annealing (final state), part or all of the alloying
elements in the solid-solution state are precipitated as
intermetallic compounds, so that the electrical resistivity is
adjusted to be lower than 20 .mu..OMEGA.cm, equivalent to an
electrode for semiconductor devices described in the fifth
embodiment of the invention.
On the other hand, in a method of fabricating an electrode for
semiconductor devices according to the present invention the
heating process after film deposition (after formation of an
electrode film) is positively utilized as the heat treatment for
precipitating intermetallic compounds. Namely, an Al alloy film
containing Fe, etc. or REM is deposited on a substrate in the state
that alloying elements (Fe, etc. or REM) are dissolved in an Al
matrix. In this case, as the volume of the elements dissolved in
the Al matrix becomes larger, the Al alloy film is more reinforced
by the so-called solid-solution effect and is thereby improved in
thermal stability, although the resistivity become higher. After
this film deposition, the heat treatment is applied to the Al alloy
film. By this heat treatment, the elements dissolved in the Al
matrix are precipitated as intermetallic compounds and the total
volume of the elements in the solid-solution state, which causes an
increase in resistivity, is reduced, as a result of which the
resistivity is decreased. Thus, by positively utilizing the heating
process after film deposition, the Al alloy film can satisfy the
requirements of a high thermal stability and a low resistivity (the
high thermal stability is a requirement during heating, and the low
resistivity is a requirement after heating).
Accordingly, a method of fabricating an electrode for semiconductor
devices includes the steps of: depositing an Al alloy film, in
which Fe, etc. or REM are dissolved in an Al matrix, on a
substrate; and precipitating part or all of the elements dissolved
in the Al matrix as intermetallic compounds by annealing the Al
alloy film at an annealing temperature ranging from 150 to
400.degree. C.; whereby an electrode for semiconductor devices
which is made of an Al alloy film with an electrical resistivity
lower than 20 .mu..OMEGA.cm is obtained. This method is an
extremely reasonable process capable of satisfying the requirements
of a high thermal stability and a low resistivity before and after
the heating process (heat treatment).
Here, it may be determined whether or not all of the elements
dissolved in the Al matrix should be precipitated as intermetallic
compounds in accordance with the volume of the elements dissolved
in the Al matrix before annealing and the desired electrical
resistivity. Moreover, when it is determined that part of them
should be precipitated, the precipitated amount based on the whole
volume of the elements dissolved in the Al matrix is similarly
determined. The annealing temperature in the heat treatment is
specified to be in the range from 150 to 400.degree. C. When it is
less than 150.degree. C., the intermetallic compounds are not
precipitated, so that the Al alloy film cannot satisfy the
requirement of electric resistance lower than 20 .mu..OMEGA.cm.
When it is more than 400.degree. C., hillocks are generated during
annealing.
In the deposition of the Al alloy film mentioned above by
sputtering, there may be used a sputtering target made of an Al
alloy containing Fe, etc. or REM. Such an Al alloy target has an
advantage in stabilizing the composition of the deposited Al alloy
film or reducing the oxygen amount compared with a composite target
and the like.
The present invention will be more clearly understood by way of
examples.
EXAMPLE 1
A binary Al alloy film with a 300 nm thickness was deposited on a
glass substrate with a 0.5 mm thickness, by DC magnetron
sputtering, using a composite target in which a specified number of
{Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh or Ir (purity: 99.9% for each element)} chips
(5 mm.times.5 mm) were put on a pure Al target (purity: 99.999%),
or a vacuum melted Al alloy target containing Fe, etc. in specified
amounts. The Al alloy film is used as an interconnection of an
electrode for semiconductor devices.
The composition of the films thus obtained was analyzed by ICP, and
the resistivity thereof was measured at room temperature by
four-point probe method. The film was then annealed at 400.degree.
C. for 1 hr. The resistivity of the film was similarly measured.
The results are summarized in the relationship between amount of
Fe, etc. (hereinafter, referred to as "content of alloy element")
and resistivity, which are shown in FIG. 1 (before annealing) and
FIG. 2 (after annealing). The resistivity is increased linearly
with increasing the content of an alloying element. However, the
resistivity is decreased by the annealing at 400.degree. C., and
which is lower than 20 .mu..OMEGA.cm even when the content of
alloying element is increased up to 10 at %.
EXAMPLE 2
An Al alloy film was formed on a substrate to the same thickness as
in Example 1 the same way as in Example 1, using a vacuum melted Al
alloy target of Al-10 at %Fe. The film was annealed at a
temperature range from 100 to 500.degree. C. for 1 hr. The
resistivity of this film was measured the same way as in Example 1.
The results are summarized in the relationship between the
annealing temperature and the resistivity. As is apparent from this
figure, the resistivity is decreased when the annealing temperature
is higher than 150.degree. C.
EXAMPLE 3
An Al alloy film containing one or more alloying elements selected
from Fe, Co, Ni, Ru, Rh or Ir was formed the same way as Example 1.
The film was annealed at 400.degree. C. for 1 hr, and was observed
by optical microscopy. The results are summarized in the
relationship between the content of an alloying element and the
hillock density, which are shown in FIG. 4. The hillock resistance
is significantly improved by the addition of Fe, etc.
EXAMPLE 4
A binary Al alloy film with a 300 nm thickness was deposited on a
glass substrate with a 0.5 mm thickness, by DC magnetron
sputtering, using a composite target in which a specified number of
(rare earth elements) chips (5 mm.times.5 mm) were put on a pure Al
target (purity: 99.999%), or a vacuum melted Al alloy target
containing a rare earth element in specified amount. The
composition of the film was analyzed and the resistivity thereof
was measured the same way as in Example 1. The results are
summarized in the relationship between the content of rare earth
element in the film and the resistivity, which are shown in FIG. 5.
The resistivity is increased linearly with increasing the content
of the rare earth element. However, when the content of the rare
earth element is 4 at % or less, the resistivity is lower than 20
.mu..OMEGA.cm without annealing.
EXAMPLE 5
Al alloy film with the same composition as in Example 4 was
deposited the same way as in Example 4. The composition of the film
was analyzed the same way as in Example 1. The film was then
annealed at 300 or 500.degree. C. for 1 hr. The resistivity of the
film was measured the same way as in Example 1. The results are
shown in FIG. 6. The resistivity is increased linearly with
increasing the content of the rare earth element. The increasing
rate of the resistivity is 0.1 .mu..OMEGA.cm/at % for the film
which is annealed at 300.degree. C., and 0.5 .mu..OMEGA.cm/at % for
the film which is annealed at 500.degree. C., each of which is
significantly small. The resistivity is lower than 20 .mu..OMEGA.cm
even when the content of the rare earth element is 15 at. %
EXAMPLE 6
Al alloy film with the same thickness as in Example 4 was deposited
the same way as in Example 4, using a composite target in which a
specified number of {Y, La, Nd, Gd, Tb or Dy (rare earth element)}
chips (5 mm.times.5 mm) were put on a pure Al target (purity:
99.999%), or a vacuum melted Al alloy target containing a rare
earth element in specified amount. The composition of the film was
analyzed and the resistivity thereof was measured the same way as
in Example 1. The film was then annealed at a temperature range
from 150 to 400.degree. C. for 1 hr. The resistivity of the film
was similarly measured. The results are summarized in the
relationship between the annealing temperature and the resistivity,
which are shown in FIG. 7 (alloying element: Y, La, Nd), and in
FIG. 8 (alloying element: Gd, Td, Dy). The resistivity is reduced
by annealing at higher than 150.degree. C. compared with that
before the annealing. It is revealed that the resistivity is lower
than 20 .mu..OMEGA.cm by the annealing for both films containing a
light rare earth element and heavy rare earth element.
EXAMPLE 7
An Al alloy film with a composition of Al-1.5 at %Gd was deposited
the same way as in Example 4. The films were patterned with a 10
.mu.m wide stripe by photolithography. The film was annealed at a
temperature range from 200 to 400.degree. C. for 1 hr, and was
observed by optical microscopy. The results are summarized in the
relationship between the annealing temperature and the hillock
density (for each length of 100 .mu.m in a stripe pattern with a 10
.mu.m width), which are shown in FIG. 9. The film has only one or
less of the hillock density, even when being annealed at a
relatively high temperature of 400.degree. C. As a result, the film
is suitable for an electrode for semiconductor devices of LCDs.
In the above-described examples, one of Fe, etc. or REM is added;
however, the same effect can be obtained when two or more of Fe,
etc. or REM are added.
* * * * *