Abstract:
A wiring member comprising a substrate, a copper wiring layer having an electrical resistivity of not larger than 4×10 −6  Ωcm in directly or indirectly contact with the substrate, an aluminum diffusion layer, contiguous to the copper wiring layer, having an aluminum concentration gradient descending towards the inside, and an aluminum oxide layer contiguous to and covering the aluminum diffusion layer, wherein a ratio of a thickness of the copper wiring layer to a thickness of the aluminum diffusion layer is 1.5 to 5. The disclosure is also concerned with a method of manufacturing the wiring member and an electronic device.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    The present application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application Serial No. JP 2009-134610, filed on Jun. 4, 2009, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference into this application. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a wiring member with low resistance, low cost and high resistance to calcining oxidation in an oxidizing atmosphere at high temperatures, a method for manufacturing the wiring member and electronic devices using the wiring member. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    As wiring materials for electronic devices such as flat display panels including plasma displays, liquid crystal displays, semiconductor elements including LSI and solar cell panels, silver and copper metal wiring materials have been used. When heat treatment at a high temperature such as 600 to 700° C. is required during manufacturing devices such as plasma display panels, liquid crystal displays and solar cell panels of the above electronic devices, silver wiring materials have been used because the materials are not oxidized in the high temperature heat treatment and keep high electrical conductivity. 
         [0004]    In recent years, cyclic utilization of global resources have been demanded to lead a movement for suppressing use of the noble metal materials. In order to realize a low cost of electronic devices, use of copper, which is plenty of resource, has been studied. However, since highly pure copper easily tends to be oxidized to have high electric resistance when oxygen enters the high temperature heat treatment process, a function for wiring material will be lost. There have been reported technologies for improving resistance to oxidation of the copper material by adding a secondary element such as aluminum, titanium, gold, silver, nickel, molybdenum, etc to copper. 
         [0005]    As disclosed in patent document Nos. 1, 2 and 3, there are proposed structures wherein copper wires are covered with copper film containing aluminum in order to suppress oxidation of copper wiring of electronic circuits such as LSI during a heat treatment at around 400° C. 
         [0006]    However, if these elements are added to copper, points where additive elements are present become centers of scattering of electrons so that electrical resistivity increases. Accordingly, high oxidizing resistance and low electrical resistivity are not contradict to each other and hard to coexist. 
         [0007]    Even if the copper wires are covered with materials containing materials with resistance to oxidation, it was impossible to suppress oxidation at the time of heat treatment at high temperatures such as 600 to 700° C. when a thickness or a composition thereof is insufficient, 
         [0008]    Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open S62-290150 
         [0009]    Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open H05-102155 
         [0010]    Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Laid-open 2007-188982 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a wiring member with high oxidizing resistance and low electrical resistivity at such high temperatures as 600 to 700° C. and is capable of forming it at a low cost, a method of manufacturing it and electrical devices using the same. 
         [0012]    In order to attain the object, the present invention provides a wiring member comprising a substrate, a copper wiring layer having an electrical resistivity of not larger than 4×10 −6  Ωcm in directly or indirectly contact with the substrate, an aluminum diffusion layer, contiguous to the copper wiring layer, having an aluminum concentration gradient descending towards the inside, and an aluminum oxide layer contiguous to and covering the aluminum diffusion layer, wherein a ratio of a thickness of the copper wiring layer to a thickness of the aluminum diffusion layer is 1.5 to 5. Preferably, the ratio should be 2 to 3. 
         [0013]    The present invention also provides a wiring member comprising a substrate, a copper wiring layer having an electrical resistivity of not larger than 4×10 −6  Ωcm in directly or indirectly contact with the substrate, an aluminum diffusion layer, contiguous to the copper wiring layer, having an aluminum concentration gradient descending towards the inside, an aluminum-copper alloy layer contiguous to the aluminum diffusion layer, and an aluminum oxide layer, contiguous to the aluminum-copper alloy layer, covering the aluminum diffusion layer, wherein a ratio of a thickness of the copper wiring to a thickness of the aluminum diffusion layer is 1.5 to 5. 
         [0014]    Further, the present invention provides a wiring member comprising a substrate; a wiring comprising a copper wiring layer having an electrical resistivity of not larger than 4×10 −6  Ωcm, aluminum diffusion layers, contiguous to each side of the copper wiring layer, each of the aluminum diffusion layers having an aluminum concentration gradient descending towards the inside, aluminum-copper alloy layers contiguous to the aluminum diffusion layers, aluminum oxide layers each covering each of the aluminum diffusion layers; and a dielectric layer in which the wiring is buried, wherein a ratio of a thickness of the copper wiring to a thickness of the aluminum diffusion layers is 1.5 to 5. 
         [0015]    Still further, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a wiring member comprising: 
         [0016]    forming a copper layer having an electrical resistivity of not larger than 4×10 −6  Ωcm in directly or indirectly contact with a substrate; 
         [0017]    forming an anti-oxidation layer selected from aluminum or aluminum-copper alloy layer having a thickness of 50 to 200 nm on the copper wiring layer, wherein the aluminum-copper alloy contains 50% by weight or more of aluminum; 
         [0018]    patterning the wiring layer and the anti-oxidation layer; and 
         [0019]    heating the wiring layer and the anti-oxidation layer to cause aluminum in the anti-oxidation layer to be diffused into the copper wiring layer and oxidize aluminum so as to obtain a ratio of a thickness of the copper wiring layer to a thickness of the aluminum diffusion layer being 1.5 to 5. 
         [0020]    The present invention provides an electronic device, which comprises: 
         [0021]    a wiring member comprising a substrate, a copper wiring layer having an electrical resistivity of not larger than 4×10 −6  Ωcm in directly or indirectly contact with the substrate, an aluminum diffusion layer, contiguous to the copper wiring layer, having an aluminum concentration gradient descending towards the inside, and an aluminum oxide layer contiguous to and covering the aluminum diffusion layer, wherein a ratio of a thickness of the copper wiring layer to a thickness of the aluminum diffusion layer is 1.5 to 5; and 
         [0022]    an electronic element, which is electrically connected to the wiring member. 
         [0023]    In the present invention, heating of the wiring and the layer in an oxidizing atmosphere is performed at a temperature of 600 to 700° C. The wiring and or the aluminum or the aluminum alloy layer is formed by sputtering method, aerosol; deposition method, screen printing method or plating method. 
         [0024]    An electronic device according to the present invention comprises a wiring member which comprises a substrate, a copper wiring directly or via another layer on the substrate, and a layer of aluminum or aluminum alloy containing copper in an amount of 50 wt % or less, and an electronic component electrically connected to the wiring member, wherein the electronic component is a plasma display panel, a liquid crystal display, solar cell panel, etc. 
         [0025]    According to embodiments of the present invention, because it is possible to obtain a wiring member having high resistance to calcining oxidation at high temperatures in an oxidizing atmosphere and having low electrical resistivity, it is unnecessary to adopt such high-cost processes for treatment of electronic devices as in reducing atmosphere or vacuum atmosphere. Further, since expensive rare metals such as silver are not used, material cost is low and steady supply of materials can be possible. 
         [0026]    In the present invention, the electrical resistivity of the copper wiring layer and the aluminum diffusion layer or of the copper wiring layer, the aluminum diffusion layer and the aluminum-copper alloy layer is the sum of the electrical resistivity of the layers or appearance electrical resistivity. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  shows a cross sectional view of a wiring member of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a cross sectional view of a wiring member of another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 3  shows a relationship between a thickness of a aluminum-copper alloy film and electrical resistivity of the aluminum-copper films having different aluminum concentrations. 
           [0030]      FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of a plasma display panel to which the present invention is applied. 
           [0031]      FIG. 5A  is a cross sectional view of a plasma display panel according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 5B  is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion around the display electrodes  18  shown in  FIG. 5A . 
           [0033]      FIG. 5C  is an enlarged cross sectional view of a portion around the address electrodes  19  shown in  FIG. 5A . 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  shows a profile of aluminum concentration in an aluminum diffusion layer. 
           [0035]      FIG. 7A  is a sectional view of the wiring member of an embodiment. 
           [0036]      FIG. 7B  is a sectional view of the wiring member of another embodiment. 
           [0037]      FIG. 8  is a sectional view of a wiring member of still another embodiment. 
       
    
    
       [0038]    Reference numerals used in the drawings are as follows.
         1 : Substrate,  2 : Under layer,  3 : Copper wiring,  4 : CuAl alloy film,  5 : Oxidized layer of CuAl alloy film,  6 : Oxidized layer of copper wiring layer,  7 : Al diffusion layer into the copper wiring layer,  10 : Front panel,  11 : Back panel,  12 : Partition wall,  13 : Sealing material,  15 ,  16 ,  17 : Fluorescent substances of red, green and blue,  18 : Display electrode,  19 : Address electrode,  20 : Ultra violet ray,  21 ,  22 : Dielectric layer,  23 : Protecting layer,  24 : Cr film,  25 : Cu wiring film,  26 : CuAl alloy film       
 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]    After a thin film of Cr with about 10 nm thick, which is intimacy with a glass substrate, was formed on the glass substrate of about 30 mm square, copper film with 3 μm was formed on the Cr film. A 50 wt % Cu-50 wt % Al film with 120 nm thick was formed on the copper film. The both films wee formed by DC magnetron sputtering method. Thereafter, photoresist was formed on the Cu—Al thin film to form a masking with a line width of 100 μm. Then, the masked films were subjected to pattern exposure with ultra-violet ray, and were subjected to chemical etching in a nitric solution. As a result, the copper wiring layer with a line width of 100 μm and a wiring height (thickness of wiring) of 3 μm was obtained. The resulted wiring was subjected to heating in air at 600° C. for one hour to oxidize the wiring. 
         [0041]    The resulting wiring did not change its outer appearance between before-heat treatment and after-heat treatment. Oxidation was not observed with eyes. Resistance of the wiring was measured to find that the resistance before the heat treatment was 1.9×10 −6  Ωcm and the resistance after heat-treatment was 3.7×10 −6  Ωcm. The resistance after the heat-treatment increased a little, but it was sufficiently low enough to be utilized as wiring. 
         [0042]    Though the above result was obtained by calcination in air, the same oxidation resistance was obtained when a material such as dielectric glass is coated on the Cu—Al film of the wiring. 
         [0043]    In the following, embodiments will be explained in detail. 
       Embodiment 1 
       [0044]      FIG. 1  shows a cross sectional view of the wiring member of the embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0045]    In  FIG. 1 , the wiring member comprises a substrate  1 , an under layer  2 , a copper wiring layer  3  and a CuAl alloy thin film  4 . In this embodiment, alumino-silicate group glass with a high stain point was used as the substrate. In this embodiment, the size of the substrate was 30 mm square. 
         [0046]    The under layer  2  (first layer) of Cr with 10 nm was formed on the surface of the substrate. Then, the copper wiring layer  3  (second layer) with 3 μm was formed on the first layer, followed by forming the 50 wt % Cu-50 wt % Al film  4  (third layer) with 30 to 120 nm thick. The films  2  to  4  were prepared by DC magnetron sputtering method. As targets for Cr and Cu, single layer targets of Cr and Cu (a diameter: 152.4 mm) were used. Purity of the targets was 99.9% or higher. Film forming atmospheric gas was pure argon gas with purity of 99.9999%, and a pressure for film forming was 0.7 Pa. A reached vacuum pressure was 4×10 −5  Pa or less. A power for film forming was 500 W for each of the targets. 
         [0047]    After forming the films, a photo-resist was coated on the film  4  to irradiate the photo-resist with ultra violet ray via a mask for forming a line width of 100 nm. Thereafter, the resist was removed except for the wiring portions with a removing solution to develop the films, and then the exposed films were removed with nitric acid solution. As a result, copper wiring layer with the line width of 100 nm, a line height of 3 nm and a line length of 30 mm was obtained. In this embodiments, a thickness of the 50 wt % Cu-50 wt % Al film were 30, 60 and 120 nm. 
         [0048]    For comparison, a wiring having no 50 Cu-50 Al film and a wiring with 98 wt % Cr-2 wt % Al film instead of the Cu film  3  of 3 μm were prepared. The resulting comparative wirings were subjected to heat treatment in air at 400° C., 600° C. and 700° C. for one hour for evaluation. 
         [0049]      FIG. 2  shows a cross sectional view of the wiring after heat treatment. 
         [0050]    In  FIG. 2 , the wiring comprises an oxidized layer  5  of the CuAl film  4 , an oxidized layer  6  of copper wiring layer, and an aluminum diffusion layer  7 . When the sample after heat treatment at 600° C. for one hour was observed with a scanning type electron microscope, the oxidized layer of copper and aluminum with a thickness of 5 nm to 10 nm was formed on the surface of the CuAl film after the heat treatment. Aluminum in the CuAl film diffused into copper film  3  to form the aluminum diffusion layer  7 . A thickness of the diffusion layer from the surface of the copper film was about 100 nm. In this diffusion layer, a concentration of aluminum in a region nearest to the CuAl film was highest. Further, since the side surface of the copper film  3  was oxidized to form an oxidized layer  6  with about 300 nm thick. 
         [0051]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the aluminum diffusion layer  7  has a concentration profile wherein the top face has the highest concentration and the aluminum concentration gradually decreases. The remaining copper layer  3 ′ plus the aluminum diffusion layer  7  is the copper wiring layer. 
         [0052]    According to the embodiments of the present invention, there may be two typical structures obtained by heat treating or calcination of the copper wiring layer.  FIG. 7A  shows one of them, wherein an aluminum layer is used as the anti-oxidation layer. In this case, the aluminum layer may be disappear when the wiring is subjected to heat treatment at 600 to 700° C. for 10 seconds to 30 minutes in oxidizing atmosphere. As a result, the wiring member has a structure consisting of an aluminum oxidized layer  5 , the aluminum diffusion layer  7  having a thickness t 1 , a copper layer  3 ′ having a thickness T 2 , an under layer or a bonding layer, which is intimate with the substrate such as glass. A ratio of T 2  to t 1  should be 1.5 to 5, preferably 2 to 3 so that the appearance electrical resistivity of the wiring consisting of the aluminum diffusion layer and copper layer should be not larger than 4×10 −6  Ωcm. 
         [0053]    In the case where the aluminum-copper alloy containing aluminum of 50% by weight is used as the anti-oxidation layer, the resulting structure may be shown in  FIG. 7B , wherein an aluminum-copper layer  4  main remain, while the thickness of the layer decreases due to aluminum diffusion. The ratio of the thickness of the copper layer  3 ′ to the aluminum diffusion layer  7  is the same as mentioned above. 
         [0054]    The surface state of the oxidized layer was observed with an optical microscope. Electrical resistivity was measured by a four terminals method to evaluate electrical resistivity of the wiring member. For comparison, the electrical resistivity after heat treatment in vacuum (vacuum degree: about 1×10 −4  Pa) at 500° C. was evaluated. 
         [0055]    In Table 1, there are shown the evaluation results. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Heat treatment 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                   
                 Not 
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Samples 
                   
                 treated 
                 400° C. 
                 500° C. 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 1 st   
                 2 nd   
                 3 rd   
                 Atomsphere 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Substrate 
                 layer 
                 layer 
                 layer 
                   
                 — 
                 air 
                 air 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Com. 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 — 
                 Appearance 
                 ◯ 
                 X 
                 X 
               
               
                 Em. 1 
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 1.91 × 10 −6   
                  2.1 × 10 4   
                  3.5 × 10 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                 Com. 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 98Cu—2Al 
                 — 
                 Appearance 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
                 X 
               
               
                 Em. 2 
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 7.22 × 10 −6   
                 1.26 × 10 −5   
                 2.53 × 10 −4   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                 Em. 1 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 50Cu—50Al 
                 Appearance 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                  30 μm 
                 Electrical 
                 1.92 × 10 −6   
                 2.09 × 10 −6   
                 2.40 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                 Em. 2 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 50Cu—50Al 
                 Appearance 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                  60 μm 
                 Electrical 
                 1.88 × 10 −6   
                 2.24 × 10 −6   
                 3.48 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                 Em. 3 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 50Cu—50Al 
                 Appearance 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                 120 μm 
                 Electrical 
                 1.91 × 10 −6   
                 2.43 × 10 −6   
                 3.81 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Heat treatment 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Samples 
                   
                 600° C. 
                 700° C. 
                 800° C. 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 1 st   
                 2 nd   
                 3 rd   
                 Atomsphere 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Substrate 
                 layer 
                 layer 
                 layer 
                   
                 air 
                 air 
                 vacuum 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Com. 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 — 
                 Appearance 
                 X 
                 X 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                 Em. 1 
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                  1.2 × 10 5   
                 2.41 × 10 5   
                 1.88 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                 Com. 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 98Cu—2Al 
                 — 
                 Appearance 
                 X 
                 X 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                 Em. 2 
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 2.11 × 10 5   
                 3.31 × 10 5   
                 5.52 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                 Em. 1 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 50Cu—50Al 
                 Appearance 
                 X 
                 X 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                  30 μm 
                 Electrical 
                 3.21 × 10 3   
                 7.02 × 10 3   
                 2.23 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                 Em. 2 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 50Cu—50Al 
                 Appearance 
                 X 
                 X 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                  60 μm 
                 Electrical 
                 4.12 × 10 3   
                 8.15 × 10 3   
                 2.28 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                 Em. 3 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 50Cu—50Al 
                 Appearance 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                 120 μm 
                 Electrical 
                 3.77 × 10 −6   
                 3.75 × 10 −6   
                 3.95 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0056]    In Table 1, ◯ represents that the wiring surface has metallic brightness and x represents that the wiring surface has portions where color changes color into black due to oxidation, when the surface is observed with eyes after heat treatment. The electrical resistivity was measured by measuring electrical resistance of the wiring with the four terminal probe method, and the resulting values were converted into electrical resistivity from the length of the wiring and a sectional area thereof. 
         [0057]    As is shown in Table 1, in the samples in which the copper film of 3 μm, when no heat treatment is applied, the electrical resistivity of the wiring was 1.91×10 −6  Ωcm, which is close to 1.55×10 −6  Ωcm, i.e. a theoretical electrical resistivity of copper. Further, in case of heat treatment in vacuum, the electrical resistivity was as low as 1.88×10 −6  Ωcm. When the wiring is heated in air at 400 to 700° C., the surface thereof is oxidized into black color, and electrical resistivity became the order of 10 4  to 10 3  Ωcm. This wiring cannot be utilized as wiring material. 
         [0058]    In case of comparative embodiment 2, in which 98 wt % Cu-2 wt % Al was used, the electrical resistivity was 7.22×10 −6  Ωcm, which is quite higher than that of pure copper. In the case where the wiring was heat treated at 400° C., the electrical resistivity was 1.26×10 −5  Ωcm, which is higher than the value before heat treatment, but the value became much smaller than that of pure copper. Wirings that were heat treated at temperatures higher than 500° C., the wiring was oxidized and the wiring was not suitable for wiring materials. 
         [0059]    On the other hand, in case of samples using 50 wt % Cu-50 wt % of Al, which were not heat treated, the electrical resistivity was 1.9×10 −6  Ωcm or less, which was approximately the same as that of pure copper. In any samples, which were heat treated at 400° C. and 500° C., the surface of the wiring had metallic brightness and electrical resistivity was 4×10 −6  Ωcm or less, which is sufficiently low for wiring materials. 
         [0060]    In case the wiring is heat treated in air at 600° C. and 700° C., the samples in which 50 Cu-50 Al films of 30 nm and 60 nm are formed (embodiments 1, 2), black dots, which represent oxidation appeared in the surface of the samples, the electrical resistivity was as high as the order of 10 3  Ωcm. On the other hand, a 50 Cu-50 Al film of 120 nm thick exhibited metallic brightness even when the samples were heat treated in air at 600° C. and 700° C., and electrical resistivity was as low as 3.77×10 −6  Ωcm and 3.75×10 −6  Ωcm, respectively. These values are smaller than that heat treated in vacuum at 500° C. 
         [0061]    From the above description, it has been proven that if a 50 Cu-50 Al film of 120 nm or so is formed of pure copper wiring layer, it could be possible to impart extremely high resistance to oxidation to the wiring. 
         [0062]    Next, for the purpose of investigation of a relationship between a composition of the CuAl alloy and thickness of the films and change of electrical resistivity of films having different Al compositions and different thicknesses that are heat treated in air at 600° C. were investigated. The results are shown in Tables 2 and 3. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Samples 
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 1 st   
                 2 nd   
                 3 rd   
                 Thickness of 3 rd  layer (nm) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Substrate 
                 layer 
                 layer 
                 layer 
                   
                 10 
                 20 
                 50 
                 70 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Com. 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 98Cu—2Al 
                 Appearance 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
               
               
                 Em. 3 
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 8.54 × 10 4   
                 8.26 × 10 4   
                 7.52 × 10 4   
                 6.12 × 10 3   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                 Com. 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 95Cu—5Al 
                 Appearance 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
               
               
                 Em. 4 
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 7.31 × 10 4   
                 6.12 × 10 4   
                 5.07 × 10 4   
                 3.42 × 10 3   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                 Com. 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 98Cu—2Al 
                 90Cu—10Al 
                 Appearance 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
               
               
                 Em. 5 
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 5.12 × 10 4   
                 4.41 × 10 4   
                 3.48 × 10 3   
                 3.10 × 10 3   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                 Com. 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 70Cu—30Al 
                 Appearance 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
               
               
                 Em. 6 
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 5.03 × 10 4   
                 5.10 × 10 4   
                 4.08 × 10 3   
                 3.28 × 10 4   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Samples 
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 1 st   
                 2 nd   
                 3 rd   
                 Thickness of 3 rd  layer (nm) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Substrate 
                 layer 
                 layer 
                 layer 
                   
                 100 
                 120 
                 200 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Com. 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 98Cu—2Al 
                 Appearance 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
               
               
                   
                 Em. 3 
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 4.10 × 10 5   
                 2.21 × 10 3   
                 1.12 × 10 3   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                   
                 Com. 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 95Cu—5Al 
                 Appearance 
                 X 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
                 Em. 4 
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 1.12 × 10 3   
                 8.92 × 10 2   
                 1.25 × 10 −5   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                   
                 Com. 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 98Cu—2Al 
                 90Cu—10Al 
                 Appearance 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
                 Em. 5 
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 1.85 × 10 3   
                 5.12 × 10 −6   
                 4.85 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                   
                 Com. 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 70Cu—30Al 
                 Appearance 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
                 Em. 6 
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 1.25 × 10 −6   
                 8.92 × 10 −6   
                 5.31 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 Samples 
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 1 st   
                 2 nd   
                 3 rd   
                 Thickness of 3 rd  layer (nm) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Substrate 
                 layer 
                 layer 
                 layer 
                   
                 10 
                 20 
                 50 
                 70 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Em. 4 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 50Cu—50Al 
                 Appearance 
                 X 
                 X 
                 X 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 5.22 × 10 4   
                 3.48 × 10 3   
                 3.58 × 10 3   
                 3.95 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                 Em. 5 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 30Cu—70Al 
                 Appearance 
                 X 
                 X 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 4.52 × 10 4   
                 2.55 × 10 3   
                 3.56 × 10 −6   
                 3.52 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                 Em. 6 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 Al 
                 Appearance 
                 X 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 1.99 × 10 3   
                 2.58 × 10 −5   
                 3.85 × 10 −6   
                 3.78 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Samples 
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 1 st   
                 2 nd   
                 3 rd   
                 Thickness of 3 rd  layer (nm) 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                   
                 Substrate 
                 layer 
                 layer 
                 layer 
                   
                 100 
                 120 
                 200 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Em. 4 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 50Cu—50Al 
                 Appearance 
                 ◯X 
                 ◯X 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 3.80 × 10 −6   
                 3.77 × 10 −6   
                 2.84 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                   
                 Em. 5 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 30Cu—70Al 
                 Appearance 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 3.59 × 10 −6   
                 3.08 × 10 −6   
                 2.56 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                   
                 Em. 6 
                 Glass 
                 Cr 
                 Cu 
                 Al 
                 Appearance 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
                 ◯ 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 10 nm 
                 3 μm 
                   
                 Electrical 
                 3.46 × 10 −6   
                 3.15 × 10 −6   
                 2.78 × 10 −6   
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 resistivity 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (Ω · cm) 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0063]    In case of comparative embodiment No. 3 in Table 2 where the thin film contained Al in an amount of 2 wt %, the film changed color into black due to oxidation by calcination at 600° C., and electrical resistivity was as high as 10 3  Ωcm or more; thus this material was not suitable for wiring material. In case of comparative embodiment Nos. 4 to 6 where the thin films contained 5 to 30 wt % of Al, thin films changed color into black and electrical resistivity was high. These films were not suitable for wiring materials, either. When the films were thick, the electrical resistivity exceeded 4×10 −6  Ωcm, and these films were not suitable for wiring materials, though the surface of the films kept metallic brightness. 
         [0064]    On the other hand, when the thin films containing 50 wt % of Al in embodiment No. 4 had 70 nm or more, its appearance kept metallic brightness and electrical resistivity was not larger than 4×10 −6  Ωcm; the film was suitable for wiring material. In case of embodiment Nos. 5 and 6 where Al or aluminum alloys containing 30 wt % or less of Cu, electrical resistivity of the films was not larger than 4×10 −6  Ωcm, when a thickness was 50 nm or more. These films were suitable for wiring material. 
         [0065]    The relationship between electrical resistivity and thickness shown in Table 2 is shown in  FIG. 3 . The data shown in  FIG. 3  were obtained by heat treating them at 600° C. for one hour. It is desired that for high efficiency of plasma display panels and solar cells, the electrical resistivity of the wiring material should be not larger than 4×10 −6  Ωcm. Conditions for realizing the electrical resistivity has been investigated when the film material is subjected to heat treatment at 600° C. 
         [0066]    From  FIG. 3 , it is apparent that when the concentration of Al is less than 50 wt %, there is not a range where the electrical resistivity of less than 4×10 −6  Ωcm, even when a thickness is large. This is because when the Al concentration is small, an oxidized layer is easily formed so that the oxidized layer increases the electrical resistivity of the wiring member. 
         [0067]    When the Al concentration is not less than 50 wt %, there is a range where the electrical resistivity is not larger than 4×10 −6  Ωcm when the thickness is 50 to 200 nm. If the thickness is less than 50 nm, there is no range where the electrical resistivity is not larger than 4×10 −6  Ωcm, even if the Al concentration is high. This is because when the thickness is small, oxidation of copper is not suppress to form the oxidized layer. 
         [0068]    Although oxidation is suppressed when the thickness is large, the electrical resistivity of the wiring increases as the thickness increases, because the electrical resistivity of CuAl layer may give an influence on the electrical resistivity of the wiring member. 
         [0069]    From the above investigations, it should be preferable that the wiring member of the present invention is an aluminum alloy film containing copper in an amount of 50 wt % or less or aluminum in a thickness of 50 to 200 nm. 
         [0070]    In the above mentioned embodiments, the films were prepared by sputtering method, but the films can be prepared by other methods such as aerosol deposition method, screen printing method, plating method, etc. The methods can be combined. For example, forming of copper film is done by one of the above methods, and the CuAl film may be formed by another one of the above mentioned methods. 
         [0071]    Although in the above embodiments the under layer of Cr was formed between the glass substrate and the copper film in order to increase adhesion, this under layer can be omitted in accordance with applications. For the purpose of increasing the adhesion between the substrate and the copper film, films of titanium, aluminum, molybdenum or tungsten achieved the same results. 
       Embodiment 2 
       [0072]    Next, a plasma display panel manufactured by the process of the present invention will be explained in the following. 
         [0073]    A cross sectional view of the plasma display panel is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0074]    In the plasma display panel of this embodiment, a front panel  10  and a back panel  11  are opposed to each other with a gap of 100 to 150 μm, and the gap between the panels is kept with partition walls  12 . Peripheries of the front panel and back panel are air-tightly sealed with a sealant  13 . Rare gas is filled in the inside of the plates. Fluorescent materials  15 ,  16 ,  17  are filled in small spaces (cells  14 ) defined by the partition walls  12 . Three fluorescent colors of red  15 , green  16  and blue  17  filled in the spaces constitute one pixel, Each pixel emits color light in response to specified signals. 
         [0075]    The front panel  10  and the back panel  11  are provided with electrodes  18 ,  19  regularly arranged on the glass substrate  21 . The display electrodes  18  on the front panel  10  and address electrodes  19  on the back panel  11  constitute pairs between which potentials of 100 to 200 V are applied selectively thereby emitting ultraviolet ray  20  to cause the fluorescent materials  15 ,  16 ,  17  to illuminate for displaying images. The display electrodes  18  and address electrodes  19  are covered with dielectric layers  21 ,  22  to protect them and to control charges on the partition walls at the discharge time. As the dielectric layers, glass thick films are used. 
         [0076]    The partition walls  12  are disposed on the dielectric layer  22  on the address electrodes  19  formed on the back panel  11  to thereby form cells  14 . The form of the partition walls  12  may be stripe or box forms. 
         [0077]    As the display electrodes  18  and the address electrodes  19 , silver thick films have been widely used. As is described above, change of silver thick films into copper thick films is preferable for preventing migration and cost reduction, but it should be realized that the electrical resistivity of the copper wiring layer does not increase when it is formed and heated in an oxidizing atmosphere, the electrical resistivity of the wiring does not increase by reaction between copper and dielectric layer material at the time of heat treatment, and a withstanding voltage of the wiring does not decrease by bubbles formed in the vicinity of the copper thick film. 
         [0078]    Formation of the display electrodes  18  and the address electrodes  19  can be made by sputtering method, but printing method is suitable for reducing production cost. 
         [0079]    The dielectric layers  21 ,  22  are formed by printing method, in general. The display electrodes  18 , the address electrodes  19  and the dielectric layers prepared by the printing method are generally heat treated in oxidizing atmosphere at 450 to 620° C. 
         [0080]    After the display electrodes  18  are formed so as to intersect the address electrodes  19  on the back panel  11 , the dielectric layer  21  is formed over the entire of the dielectric layer  21 . The dielectric layer  21  is covered with a protective layer  23  so as to protect the dielectric layer  21 , etc from discharging. As a material for the protective layer  23 , evaporated film of MgO is widely used. 
         [0081]    On the other hand, after the address electrodes  19  are formed on the back panel  11 , a dielectric layer  22  is formed in an area where cells are formed. The partition walls  12  are formed on the dielectric layer  22 . The partition walls  12  made of lass material contains at lest glass composition and filler, which is calcined. 
         [0082]    The partition walls  12  are formed in such a manner that a evaporating sheet having grooves at points where the partition walls are formed is adhered to the dielectric layer  22 , wherein a paste for the partition walls is filled in the grooves, and the paste is calcined at about 600° C. so as to evaporate the sheet, followed by forming the partition walls. 
         [0083]    The partition walls  12  can be prepared by coating the paste for the partition walls over the entire face of the dielectric layer  22 , and after drying the coating, unnecessary portions of the coating are removed by sandblasting or chemical etching, followed by calcination at 500 to 600° C. to form the partition walls. 
         [0084]    The cells  14  partitioned with the partition walls  12  are filled with pastes of fluorescent materials  15 ,  16 ,  17  for desired colors, then the pastes are calcined at 450 to 500° C. to form fluorescent substances  15 ,  16 ,  17 . 
         [0085]    In general, the front panel  10  and the back panel  11  are separately prepared, and they are opposed to each other by accurate positioning. The peripheries thereof are air-tightly sealed with glass at 420 to 500° C. The sealing material  13  is applied to at least one periphery of the panels by dispenser method or printing method. The sealing material  13  is applied on the back panel  11 , in general. The sealing material  13  may be pre-calcined beforehand simultaneously with the fluorescent substances  15 ,  16 ,  17 . By employing this technique, bubbles in the sealing portions can be remarkably suppressed to thereby provide a sealed portion with high air-tightness and high reliability. 
         [0086]    After the glass sealing, cells  14  are evacuated to remove gas therein and rare gas is filled therein thereby co complete the display panel. In pre-calcination of the sealing material  13  or glass sealing, the sealing material  13  may directly contact the display electrodes  10  or the address electrodes  11 . Reaction between the sealing material  13  and the electrode materials, which may increase the electrical resistivity of the electrode materials, should be avoided. 
         [0087]    In turning on the display panel, the potential is applied at the points where the display electrodes and the address electrodes intersect to cause the rare gas in the cells to discharge to generate plasma. When the rare gas in the cells returns from the plasma state to the normal state, the gas emits ultraviolet ray, which is utilized to illuminate the fluorescent substances  15 ,  16 ,  17  to thereby turn on the display panel to display images. In turning on each of the colors, address discharge is performed between the display electrodes and the address electrodes to be turned on thereby to accumulate charges in the cells. When a certain potential is applied between the display-address electrode pairs, address discharge takes place to display discharge only in the cells where wall charges are accumulated to emit ultraviolet ray  20 . The ultra violet ray  20  illuminates the fluorescent substances  15 ,  16 ,  17  to display the images. 
         [0088]    In this embodiment, the effectiveness of the CuAl alloy film formed on Cu wiring for the address electrode was investigated. As the copper wiring layer, a wiring material comprising 85 volume % of copper powder having an average particle size of 1 to 2 μm and 15 volume % of glass powder having an average particle size of 1 μm was prepared, and a mixture comprising 85 volume % of 50 wt % Cu-50 wt % Al powder having an average particle size of 1 to 2 μm and 15 volume % of glass powder having an average particle size of 1 μm was prepared on the above copper wiring material. The composite wiring materials were applied to the display electrodes  18  on the front panel  10  and the address electrodes  19  on the back panel  11  to prepare the plasma display panel shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0089]    Each of the above wiring materials was mixed with ethyl cellulose as a binder and butyl carbitol acetate as a solvent to prepare pastes for wiring. The pastes were coated on the front panel  10  and the back panel  11  by screen printing method. Thereafter, the coatings were calcined in air at 530° C. for 30 minutes to obtain the display electrodes  18  and the address electrodes  19 . Then, glass was coated on the electrodes to form the dielectric layers  21 ,  22 . The glass for the dielectric layers was lead-free glass powder having an average particle size of 1 μm and having a softening point of around 560° C., and the glass powder was mixed with the binder ethyl cellulose and the solvent butyl carbitol acetate to prepare a paste. 
         [0090]    A sealing glass paste was prepared using the same lead-free glass, the binder and the solvent as mentioned above. The front panel  10  and the back panel  11  were prepared separately and assembled. The peripheries thereof were glass sealed to produce a display panel. The display electrodes  18  and the address electrodes  19  according to the embodiment did not change color due to oxidation and the wiring could be mounted on the display panel without voids at the interface of the display electrodes  18  and the dielectric layer  21  and at the interface of the address electrodes  19  and the dielectric layer  22 . 
         [0091]    Next, turning on tests of the plasma display panel was conducted. The display electrodes  18  and the address electrodes  19  did not increase electrical resistivity, and did not decrease withstanding voltage. Migration of metal atoms was not observed. Any other problems were not observed. 
         [0092]    The wiring material of the present invention can be applied not only to plasma display panels, but to the wiring material for solar cells. Although wiring materials comprising silver powder and glass powder have been used for the solar cells, it is possible to reduce a cost of the wiring material for the solar cells by employing the wiring material according to the present invention. 
       Embodiment 3 
       [0093]    The plasma display panel shown in  FIGS. 5A-5C  was prepared wherein the display electrodes  18  and the address electrodes  19  were prepared by sputtering method. As the wiring material, the copper film  25  and the 50 Cu-50 Al film  26  were formed on a Cr film  24  to form a three layer structure. Thicknesses of the films were 0.2 μm for the Cr film, 3.0 μm for the copper film and 0.1 μm for the CuAl film. A plasma display panel was prepared in the similar manner as in embodiment 2. Sputter targets were a metal Cr disc, a copper disc and a CuAl alloy disc. 
         [0094]    The display electrodes  18  and the address electrodes  19  could be mounted plasma display panel without any voids at the side faces of the display electrodes  18  and the address electrodes  19 . 
         [0095]    This display panel was subjected to tests for turning-on. The electrical resistivity of the display electrodes  18  and the address electrodes  19  did not increase, and a withstanding voltage did not decrease. Migration was not observed. There were any other problems were present. 
         [0096]    For comparison, a plasma display panel was prepared in the same manner as in the embodiment, wherein the CuAl film  26  was not formed to prepare the display electrodes  18  and the address electrodes  19 . Voids were observed at the side faces of the display electrodes  18  and the address electrodes  19 , and the withstanding voltage decreased to half. 
         [0097]    As has been described, the display electrodes  18  comprising the under layer of Cr and the third film of CuAl film can suppress reaction between the dielectric layer and the wiring so as to prevent generation of the voids. Similarly, the under layer can be substituted with chromium oxide film to achieve the same result, i.e. good adhesion between the CuAl film and the back panel. It is possible to control a hue of the display electrodes viewed from the front by interference between reflected light from the CuAl film and reflected light from the Cr oxide film, wherein a thickness of the Cr film is adjusted so that black color to dark color or brown color can be obtained. 
         [0098]    In the above embodiments, plasma display panels have been described, but the wiring according to the embodiments bring about advantages as long as electronic devices use copper wiring layer with excellent oxidation resistance. For example, the present invention may be applied to processes for manufacturing solar cells, semiconductor devices or liquid crystal displays that employ heat treatment at 600° C. or higher. 
         [0099]    In this embodiment, a sectional view of the wiring member may be shown in  FIG. 8 , wherein the copper layer  3 ′ is sandwiched between aluminum diffusion layers  7 , aluminum-copper alloy layers  4  and oxide layers  5 . The ratio of the thickness of the copper layer to the thickness of the aluminum diffusion layer should be the same as mentioned before.