Patent Publication Number: US-2010127611-A1

Title: Transparent electrode

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to transparent electrodes that are excellent in transmittance in the infrared wavelength range and are used in optical communication devices mainly using infrared light. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In recent years, tunable filters and tunable lasers combined with liquid crystal have been developed as a form of optical communication device using infrared light, particularly infrared light near 1.55 μm. These devices use a transparent electrode including an ITO thin film or the like, and can change the refractive index of liquid crystal by applying a voltage to the transparent electrode, thereby changing the passband wavelength of the filter or the laser wavelength (see for example Patent Document 1). 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view illustrating an example of a tunable filter. The tunable filter is configured, as shown in  FIG. 1 , so that an opposed electrode  2 , a coating layer  3  made of material such as SiO 2 , a grating  4  likewise made of material such as SiO 2 , a waveguide  5  made of a liquid crystal layer  6 , a transparent conductive film  7 , a transparent substrate  8  such as a glass substrate, and if required an antireflection film  9  are formed in this order on a substrate  1  having a high infrared light transmittance, such as a silicon wafer. Incident light I o  having entered the tunable filter from above transmits through the layers. Meanwhile, only part of the light I r &#39;having a particular wavelength is reflected from the grating  4  surface, resonates in the waveguide  5  and is then filtered out of the incident light side of the filter. The rest of the light having other wavelengths transmits through and out of the filter from the transparent substrate  1  side without reflecting off the grating  4  surface. In this case, when a voltage is applied between the transparent conductive film  7  and the opposed electrode  2 , the refractive index of the liquid crystal layer  6  changes, whereby the wavelength of reflected light I r  to be filtered out can be controlled. 
     Patent Document 1: Published Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-514566 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     A transparent electrode having such a transparent conductive film, particularly a transparent conductive film made of an ITO thin film, has a high electric conductivity and, therefore, is suitably used in a liquid crystal display, such as an FPD. However, when the transparent electrode is used in the infrared wavelength range, it significantly absorbs light owing to its electric conductivity. In other words, the transparent electrode has a problem in that in the infrared wavelength range it has a large extinction coefficient and causes a high optical loss. 
     The extinction coefficient is defined as follows. Specifically, when a substance absorbs light, transmitted light I attenuates according to the following relation using the intensity of incident light I o  and the light penetration depth Z 
       I=I o e −αz    
     Here, α indicating the attenuation per unit length is referred to as the absorption coefficient. On the other hand, in theoretically determining the interaction between light and the substance, reference is made to the amount of light absorption per oscillation frequency in the electromagnetic field. Therefore, the extinction coefficient k is defined as an amount for defining the light absorption of the substance. The following relation exists between the extinction coefficient k, the absorption coefficient α and the wavelength λ. 
         k=α×λ/ 4π 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a transparent electrode that is used in an optical communication device using infrared light, particularly infrared light near 1.55 μm, and has a small extinction coefficient for infrared light and a high infrared light transmittance. 
     The inventors have found from various studies that the above problem can be solved by using, as a transparent conductive film used in a transparent electrode, a film having a high light transmittance in the infrared wavelength range, and propose the transparent electrode as the present invention. 
     Specifically, a transparent electrode according to the present invention includes a transparent conductive film, wherein the extinction coefficient of the transparent conductive film at a wavelength of 1.55 μm is equal to or less than 0.5. As described above, the transmittance at a wavelength of 1.55 μm is important for optical communication devices using infrared light. Since in this invention the extinction coefficient at that wavelength is equal to or less than 0.5, the loss of transmitted light can be reduced, which makes it possible to provide a transparent electrode having a high infrared light transmittance. 
     The extinction coefficient of the transparent conductive film at a wavelength of 1.55 μm is preferably equal to or less than 0.01. 
     Examples of the transparent conductive film include a film made of indium tin oxide (ITO). ITO has a high electric conductivity and, therefore, makes it possible to provide a transparent electrode suitable for optical communication devices using infrared light, such as tunable filters and tunable lasers as described above. 
     Examples of the transparent conductive film also include a film made of indium titanium oxide (ITiO). 
     The transparent conductive film is preferably deposited by a sputtering process in an atmosphere satisfying the condition that the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas is equal to or greater than 3.0×10 −3 . 
     The transparent conductive film is preferably deposited by a sputtering process in an atmosphere satisfying the condition that the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas is equal to or greater than 5.0×10 −3 . 
     If the transparent conductive film is made of indium tin oxide, it is more preferably deposited by a sputtering process in an atmosphere satisfying the condition that the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas is equal to or greater than 4.0×10 −3 . 
     If the transparent conductive film is made of indium titanium oxide, it is more preferably deposited by a sputtering process in an atmosphere satisfying the condition that the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas is equal to or greater than 10.0×10 −3 . 
     The geometric thickness of the transparent conductive film is preferably 5 to 200 nm. 
     The sheet resistance of the transparent conductive film is preferably 500 Ω/sq. or more. If the sheet resistance meets the above range, the transparent electrode can have a high transmittance at a wavelength of 1.55 μm. 
     The transparent conductive film may be formed on a substrate. 
     The transparent electrode according to the present invention may include an antireflection film. When the transparent electrode includes an antireflection film together with a transparent conductive film, this provides suppression of reflection of incident light and, therefore, can increase the infrared light transmittance of the transparent electrode. 
     Antireflection films are preferably formed on both the front and back sides of the substrate. 
     The transparent conductive film is preferably formed on the antireflection film formed on the front side of the substrate. 
     The antireflection film is preferably a stacked film composed of a low-refractive index layer and a high-refractive index layer. If the antireflection film has the above film structure, the transparent electrode can be given an excellent antireflection property, which further increases the infrared light transmittance of the transparent electrode. 
     The transparent electrode of the present invention can be used in an optical communication device using infrared light, such as a tunable filter or a tunable laser. 
     A method for producing a transparent conductive film according to the present invention includes depositing a transparent conductive film by use of a sputtering process in a sputtering atmosphere satisfying the condition that the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas is equal to or greater than 3.0×10 −3 . By controlling the ratio of the flow rates of rare gas and O 2  gas at the predetermined ratio in depositing a transparent conductive film by a sputtering process, a transparent conductive film of small extinction coefficient and high infrared light transmittance can be provided. 
     The sputtering atmosphere preferably satisfies the condition that the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas is equal to or greater than 5.0×10 −3 . 
     EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the transparent electrode of the present invention, the transparent conductive film constituting part of the transparent electrode has a low extinction coefficient. Therefore, the loss of transmitted light can be reduced, which makes it possible to provide a transparent electrode having a high infrared light transmittance. Hence, the transparent electrode of the present invention is suitable for optical communication devices using infrared light, such as tunable filters and tunable lasers. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an example of a tunable filter. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a transparent electrode according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a transparent electrode according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a graph showing results of measurement of extinction coefficient when a transparent conductive film is an ITO film. 
         FIG. 5  is a graph showing results of measurement of extinction coefficient when a transparent conductive film is an ITiO film. 
     
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               1  substrate 
               2  opposed electrode 
               3  coating layer 
               4  grating 
               5  waveguide 
               6  liquid crystal layer 
               7  transparent conductive film 
               8  transparent substrate 
               9  antireflection film 
               10  transparent electrode 
               11  substrate 
               12  antireflection film 
               13  transparent conductive film 
               14  low-refractive index layer 
               15  high-refractive index layer 
               16  antireflection film 
               17  low-refractive index layer 
               18  high-refractive index layer 
           
         
       
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a transparent electrode  10  according to an embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the transparent electrode  10  includes a substrate  11 , an antireflection film  12  formed on the substrate  11 , and a transparent conductive film  13  formed on the antireflection film  12 . 
     The extinction coefficient of the transparent conductive film  13  at a wavelength of 1.55 μm is equal to or less than 0.5, preferably equal to or less than 0.3, more preferably equal to or less than 0.1, still more preferably equal to or less than 0.05, yet more preferably equal to or less than 0.01, and yet still more preferably equal to or less than 0.005. If the extinction coefficient of the transparent conductive film  13  is above 0.5, the loss of transmitted infrared light is large, whereby the transparent electrode  10  tends to be unsuitable for infrared light devices. The lower limit of the extinction coefficient of the transparent conductive film  13  is not particularly limited, but is actually equal to or greater than 0.0001. The extinction coefficient of the transparent conductive film  13  preferably satisfies the above region of values over the whole wavelength range of 1.5 to 1.6 μm. In such a case, the transparent electrode  10  is more suitably used as an infrared optical communication device. 
     The resistivity of the transparent conductive film  13  is not particularly limited. However, if the resistivity of the transparent conductive film  13  is too low, the extinction coefficient thereof at a wavelength of 1.55 μm tends to be large. Therefore, the resistivity of the transparent conductive film  13  is preferably 10 3  μΩ·cm or more, and more preferably 10 4  μΩ·cm or more. On the other hand, if the resistivity of the transparent conductive film  13  is too high, the electric conductivity of the transparent conductive film  13  tends to be low and the transparent electrode  10  tends to be unsuitable particularly for optical communication devices. Therefore, the resistivity of the transparent conductive film  13  is preferably 10 5  μΩ·cm or less. 
     The extinction coefficient and resistivity of the transparent conductive film  13  can be controlled, for example, by suitably changing the ratio of the flow rates of gases in depositing the transparent conductive film  13  by a sputtering process. More specifically, the extinction coefficient and resistivity of the transparent conductive film  13  can be controlled, as will be described later, by suitably changing the ratio of the flow rates of O 2  gas to rare gas. 
     The geometric thickness of the transparent conductive film  13  is preferably 5 to 200 nm, more preferably 10 to 100 nm, still more preferably 10 to 50 nm, and most preferably 10 to 30 nm. If the geometric thickness of the transparent conductive film  13  is smaller than 5 nm, the sheet resistance of the transparent conductive film  13  is high, resulting in the tendency of the transparent electrode  10  to be unsuitable for optical communication devices, and the transparent conductive film  13  tends to become difficult to deposit. On the other hand, if the geometric thickness of the transparent conductive film  13  is larger than 200 nm, the transmittance of the transparent conductive film  13  at a wavelength of 1.55 μm tends to be low. 
     The sheet resistance of the transparent conductive film  13  is preferably 500 Ω/sq. or more, more preferably 1 kΩ/sq. or more, still more preferably 2 kΩ/sq. or more, and most preferably 5 kΩ/sq. or more. If the sheet resistance of the transparent conductive film  13  is lower than 500 Ω/sq., the transmittance of the transparent conductive film  13  at a wavelength of 1.55 μm tends to be low. The upper limit of the sheet resistance of the transparent conductive film  13  is not particularly limited. However, if the sheet resistance of the transparent conductive film  13  is too high, a sufficient electric field cannot be applied to the liquid crystal or the like and the device tends to malfunction. Therefore, the sheet resistance of the transparent conductive film  13  is preferably 50 kΩ/sq. or less. Note that there exists the relation that the sheet resistance is equal to the resistivity divided by the film thickness. 
     Examples of the transparent conductive film  13  used include an ITO film, an indium titanium oxide (ITiO) film, an aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO) film, a germanium-doped zinc oxide (GZO) film, an indium zinc oxide (IZO) film, and antimony-doped tin oxide (ATO) film. Among them, the use of an ITO film or an ITiO film is preferable because of their high electric conductivity and suitability for infrared optical communication devices, and the use of an ITiO film is particularly preferable. 
     The material for the substrate  11  is not particularly limited so far as it has a high transmittance in the infrared wavelength range. For example, use can be made of a transparent substrate, such as a glass substrate, a plastic substrate or a silicon substrate. From the viewpoints of environment resistance, heat resistance, light resistance and the like, the substrate  11  is preferably formed of a glass substrate. 
     In the transparent electrode  10  are formed the antireflection film  12  together with the transparent conductive film  13 . Therefore, the reflection of infrared light is suppressed, which increases the infrared light transmittance of the transparent electrode  10 . 
     The antireflection film  12  is preferably a stacked film composed of a high-refractive index layer  14  and a low-refractive index layer  15 . Suitable materials for forming the low-refractive index layer  15  include SiO 2  and fluorides such as MgF 2 , all of which have a refractive index of 1.6 or less at a wavelength of 1.55 μm. Suitable materials for forming the high-refractive index layer  14  include Nb 2 O 5 , TiO 2 , Ta 2 O 5 , HfO 2 , ZrO 2  and Si, all of which have a refractive index of 1.6 or more. 
     The geometric thickness of the antireflection film  12  is not particularly limited, but is generally suitably controlled within the range from 5 to 500 nm. If the geometric thickness of the antireflection film  12  is less than 5 nm, the transparent electrode  10  is less likely to be given a sufficient antireflection function and the antireflection film  12  tends to become difficult to deposit. If the geometric thickness of the antireflection film  12  is above 500 nm, the surface roughness of the antireflection film  12  is large, which makes it easy to scatter light and cause problems of peeling and warpage. 
     If not only the transparent conductive film  13  is formed on the substrate  11  but also an antireflection film is formed on the back side of the substrate  11 , the infrared light transmittance can be still further increased. 
     The transparent electrode  10  has a small extinction coefficient at a wavelength of 1.55 μm as described previously and, therefore, has a high transmittance. For this reason, the transparent electrode  10  is suitably used for infrared light devices. The transmittance of the transparent electrode  10  at a wavelength of 1.55 μm is preferably 92% or more, more preferably 95% or more, and still more preferably 98% or more. If the transmittance of the transparent electrode  10  at a wavelength of 1.55 μm is less than 92%, the transparent electrode  10  tends to be unsuitable for infrared light devices. The transmittance of the transparent electrode  10  preferably satisfies the above region of values over the whole wavelength range of 1.5 to 1.6 μm. In such a case, the transparent electrode  10  is more suitable as an infrared optical communication device. Note that the term “transmittance” here refers to the transmittance of the entire layered structure. 
     When in an infrared light device the transparent electrode  10  is used with the transparent conductive film  13  in contact with liquid crystal, an orientation film, such as a polyimide film, is preferably formed between the liquid crystal and the transparent conductive film  13 . The thickness of the orientation film is not particularly limited, but is generally controlled within the range from 10 to 50 nm. 
     The method for depositing the transparent conductive film  13  is not particularly limited, and known deposition methods can be applied. Among them, sputtering deposition is preferable because the resultant transparent conductive film  13  is excellent in adhesiveness, strength and smoothness. 
     The deposition of the transparent conductive film  13  by a sputtering process using a sputtering target is generally performed under an atmosphere of a mixed gas containing rare gas and O 2  gas. In this case, the flow rate of rare gas and the flow rate of O 2  gas are set to satisfy the condition that the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas is equal to or greater than 3.0×10 −3 , preferably set to satisfy the condition that the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas is equal to or greater than 5.0×10 −3 , and more preferably set to satisfy the condition that the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas is equal to or greater than 10.0×10 −3 . If the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas is less than 3.0×10 −3 , the resistivity of the transparent conductive film  13  tends to be low and, as a result, the extinction coefficient thereof at a wavelength of 1.55 μm is likely to be large. 
     If the transparent conductive film  13  is made of indium tin oxide, it is more preferably deposited by a sputtering process in an atmosphere satisfying the condition that the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas is equal to or greater than 4.0×10 −3 . 
     If the transparent conductive film  13  is made of indium titanium oxide, it is more preferably deposited by a sputtering process in an atmosphere satisfying the condition that the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas is equal to or greater than 10.0×10 −3 . 
     The upper limit of the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas is not particularly limited. However, if the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas is too high, the resistivity of the transparent conductive film  13  is high, which makes the transparent electrode  10  unsuitable for infrared optical communication devices. Therefore, the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas is preferably 20×10 −3  or less. 
     Argon is preferably used as rare gas because of its low price. 
     The temperature of the substrate  11  in deposition by a sputtering process is not particularly limited. However, if the temperature of the substrate  11  is too high, the extinction coefficient of the transparent conductive film  13  at a wavelength of 1.55 μm tends to be large. Therefore, the temperature of the substrate  11  is preferably 400° C. or less, and more preferably 300° C. or less. 
     Other Embodiments 
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a transparent electrode  20  according to another embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 3 , it is preferable, in addition to the formation of the antireflection film  12  on the front side of the substrate  11 , to form an antireflection film  16  also on the back side of the substrate  11 . Thus, the reflection of infrared light can be further suppressed to further increase the infrared light transmittance of the transparent electrode  20 . 
     The antireflection film  16  is preferably a stacked film composed of a high-refractive index layer  17  and a low-refractive index layer  18 . Suitable materials for forming the low-refractive index layer  18  include SiO 2  and fluorides such as MgF 2 , all of which have a refractive index of 1.6 or less at a wavelength of 1.55 μm. Suitable materials for forming the high-refractive index layer  17  include Nb 2 O 5 , TiO 2 , Ta 2 O 5 , HfO 2 , ZrO 2  and Si, all of which have a refractive index of 1.6 or more. 
     EXAMPLES 
     Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples, but is not limited to the examples. 
     As shown in Table 1, transparent conductive films of ITO films were formed by sputtering on glass substrates (OA-10, manufactured by Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd., refractive index: 1.47, thickness: 1.1 mm). 
     In these cases, the deposition of ITO films in Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Example 1 was conducted using a DC sputtering apparatus. The deposition conditions were as follows: a sputtering gas was first introduced into the apparatus with the interior under a high vacuum of up to 5×10 −4  Pa at the flow rates of gases described in Table 1, and then sputtering was performed at a pressure of 0.1 Pa, a power of 1800 W and a substrate temperature of 250° C. 
     The extinction coefficients of the ITO films formed in Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Example 1 were measured with a spectroscopic ellipsometer manufactured by J. A. Woollam Co., Inc. Furthermore, the sheet resistances of the ITO films were measured with Loresta manufactured by Mitsubishi Chemical Analytech Co., Ltd. The resistivities were calculated from the relation between sheet resistance and film thickness. In addition, the transmittances were determined from the simulation where each transparent electrode, in which an ITO film, a polyimide orientation film, and in some cases a stacked film serving as an antireflection film and composed of a SiO 2  film (refractive index at 1.55 μm wavelength (the same applies hereinafter)=1.46) and a Nb 2 O 5  film (refractive index=2.26) were formed in the order and thicknesses described in Table 1, was subjected to incidence of light of 1.55 μm wavelength from the orientation film side. The results are shown in Table 1. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Comp. 
               
               
                   
                 Example 
                 Example 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 4 
                 5 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 4th Layer 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 Orientation 
                 Orientation 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Film 
                 Film 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (30 nm) 
                 (30 nm) 
               
               
                 3rd Layer 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 ITO 
                 ITO 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
               
               
                 2nd Layer 
                 Orientation 
                 Orientation 
                 Orientation 
                 SiO 2   
                 SiO 2   
                 Orientation 
               
               
                   
                 Film 
                 Film 
                 Film 
                 (183 nm)  
                 (183 nm)  
                 Film 
               
               
                   
                 (30 nm) 
                 (30 nm) 
                 (30 nm) 
                   
                   
                 (30 nm) 
               
               
                 1st Layer 
                 ITO 
                 ITO 
                 ITO 
                 Nb 2 O 5   
                 Nb 2 O 5   
                 ITO 
               
               
                   
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
                 (10 nm) 
                 (10 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Substrate 
                 Glass Substrate 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 1st Layer 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 Nb 2 O 5   
                 — 
               
               
                 on the Back 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (49 nm) 
               
               
                 2nd Layer 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 SiO 2   
                 — 
               
               
                 on the Back 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (351 nm)  
               
               
                 O2 Flow Rate 
                 1.7 
                 2 
                 6 
                 6 
                 6 
                 1 
               
               
                 (SCCM) 
               
               
                 Ar Flow Rate 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
               
               
                 (SCCM) 
               
               
                 O2 Flow Rate/ 
                 3.4 
                 4.0 
                 12.0 
                 12.0 
                 12.0 
                 2.0 
               
               
                 Ar Flow Rate 
               
               
                 (×10 −3 ) 
               
               
                 Extinction 
                 0.41 
                 0.02 
                 0.002 
                 0.002 
                 0.002 
                 0.65 
               
               
                 Coefficient 
               
               
                 Resistivity 
                 1.0 × 10 3   
                 2.1 × 10 3   
                 1.2 × 10 4   
                 1.2 × 10 4   
                 1.2 × 10 4   
                 5.7 × 10 2   
               
               
                 (μΩ · cm) 
               
               
                 Sheet Resistance 
                 700 
                 1400 
                 8000 
                 8000 
                 8000 
                 380 
               
               
                 (Ω/sq.) 
               
               
                 Transmittance(%) 
                 93.3 
                 95.6 
                 95.7 
                 95.8 
                 ≈100 
                 91.3 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     It is obvious from Table 1 that in the transparent electrodes of Examples 1 to 5 the transparent conductive films constituting parts of them have low extinction coefficients at a wavelength of 1.55 μm and, therefore, the transparent electrodes have high transmittances. On the other hand, Table 1 shows that in the transparent electrode of Comparative Example the transparent conductive film has a very large extinction coefficient at a wavelength of 1.55 μm and, therefore, the transparent electrode has a low transmittance. 
     Furthermore, as shown in Table 2, Examples 6 and 7 were produced in which the flow rates of oxygen during deposition of ITO films were different from those in Examples 1 to 5. 
     Moreover, transparent electrodes having the layered structures shown in Table 3 were also produced as Examples 8 to 17 by forming ITiO films as transparent conductive films on glass substrates (OA-10, manufactured by Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd., refractive index: 1.47, thickness: 1.1 mm). The deposition of ITiO films was conducted using a DC sputtering apparatus. The deposition conditions were as follows: a sputtering gas was first introduced into the apparatus with the interior under a high vacuum of up to 5×10 −4  Pa at the flow rates of gases described in Table 1, and then sputtering was performed at a pressure of 0.1 Pa, a power of 1800 W and a substrate temperature of 250° C. 
     Also for Examples 8 to 17, the extinction coefficients and sheet resistances of the ITiO films were measured in the same manner as for Examples 1 to 5, and the resistivities thereof were calculated in the same manner as for Examples 1 to 5. In addition, the transmittances were simulated. 
     The results for Examples 6 to 17, together with the results for Examples 1 to 5 and Comparative Example 1, are shown in Table 2, Table 3,  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5 . 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Example 
                 Comp. Ex. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 1 
                 2 
                 6 
                 7 
                 3 
                 4 
                 5 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 4th Layer 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 Orientation 
                 Orientation 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Film 
                 Film 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (30 nm) 
                 (30 nm) 
               
               
                 3rd Layer 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 ITO 
                 ITO 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
               
               
                 2nd Layer 
                 Orientation 
                 Orientation 
                 Orientation 
                 Orientation 
                 Orientation 
                 SiO 2   
                 SiO 2   
                 Orientation 
               
               
                   
                 Film 
                 Film 
                 Film 
                 Film 
                 Film 
                 (183 nm)  
                 (183 nm)  
                 Film 
               
               
                   
                 (30 nm) 
                 (30 nm) 
                 (30 nm) 
                 (30 nm) 
                 (30 nm) 
                   
                   
                 (30 nm) 
               
               
                 1st Layer 
                 ITO 
                 ITO 
                 ITO 
                 ITO 
                 ITO 
                 Nb 2 O 5   
                 Nb 2 O 5   
                 ITO 
               
               
                   
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
                 (10 nm) 
                 (10 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Substrate 
                 Glass Substrate 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 1st Layer 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 Nb 2 O 5   
                 — 
               
               
                 on the Back 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (49 nm) 
               
               
                 2nd Layer 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 SiO 2   
                 — 
               
               
                 on the Back 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (351 nm)  
               
               
                 O2 Flow Rate 
                 1.7 
                 2 
                 3 
                 5 
                 6 
                 6 
                 6 
                 1 
               
               
                 (SCCM) 
               
               
                 Ar Flow Rate 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
               
               
                 (SCCM) 
               
               
                 O2 Flow Rate/ 
                 3.4 
                 4 
                 6 
                 10 
                 12 
                 12 
                 12 
                 2 
               
               
                 Ar Flow Rate 
               
               
                 (×10 −3 ) 
               
               
                 Extinction 
                 0.41 
                 0.02 
                 0.02 
                 0.01 
                 0.002 
                 0.002 
                 0.002 
                 0.65 
               
               
                 Coefficient 
               
               
                 Resistivity 
                 1.0 × 10 3   
                 2.1 × 10 3   
                 3.3 × 10 3   
                 4.8 × 10 3   
                 1.2 × 10 4   
                 1.2 × 10 4   
                 1.2 × 10 4   
                 5.7 × 10 2   
               
               
                 (μΩ · cm) 
               
               
                 Sheet Resistance 
                 700 
                 1400 
                 2200 
                 3200 
                 8000 
                 8000 
                 8000 
                 380 
               
               
                 (Ω/sq.) 
               
               
                 Transmittance 
                 93.30 
                 95.55 
                 95.59 
                 95.63 
                 95.66 
                 95.76 
                 ≈100 
                 91.35 
               
               
                 (%) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
       
         
           
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Example 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 8 
                 9 
                 10 
                 11 
                 12 
                 13 
                 14 
                 15 
                 16 
                 17 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 4th Layer 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 Orientation 
                 Orientation 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Film 
                 Film 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (30 nm) 
                 (30 nm) 
               
               
                 3rd Layer 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 ITiO 
                 ITiO 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
               
               
                 2nd Layer 
                 Orien- 
                 Orien- 
                 Orien- 
                 Orien- 
                 Orientation 
                 Orientation 
                 Orientation 
                 Orientation 
                 SiO 2   
                 SiO 2   
               
               
                   
                 tation 
                 tation 
                 tation 
                 tation 
                 Film 
                 Film 
                 Film 
                 Film 
                 (181 nm)  
                 (181 nm)  
               
               
                   
                 Film 
                 Film 
                 Film 
                 Film 
                 (30 nm) 
                 (30 nm) 
                 (30 nm) 
                 (30 nm) 
               
               
                   
                 (30 nm) 
                 (30 nm) 
                 (30 nm) 
                 (30 nm) 
               
               
                 1st Layer 
                 ITiO 
                 ITiO 
                 ITiO 
                 ITiO 
                 ITiO 
                 ITiO 
                 ITiO 
                 ITiO 
                 Nb 2 O 5   
                 Nb 2 O 5   
               
               
                   
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
                 (15 nm) 
                 (10 nm) 
                 (10 nm) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 Substrate 
                 Glass Substrate 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 1st Layer 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 Nb 2 O 5   
               
               
                 on the Back 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (49 nm) 
               
               
                 2nd Layer 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 — 
                 SiO 2   
               
               
                 on the Back 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (351 nm)  
               
               
                 O2 Flow Rate 
                 1 
                 2 
                 3 
                 4 
                 5 
                 6 
                 7 
                 8 
                 6 
                 6 
               
               
                 (SCCM) 
               
               
                 Ar Flow Rate 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
                 500 
               
               
                 (SCCM) 
               
               
                 O2 Flow Rate/ 
                 2 
                 4 
                 6 
                 8 
                 10 
                 12 
                 14 
                 16 
                 12 
                 12 
               
               
                 Ar Flow Rate 
               
               
                 (×10 −3 ) 
               
               
                 Extinction 
                 0.0187 
                 0.0153 
                 0.0083 
                 0.0026 
                 0.0004 
                 0.0003 
                 0.0003 
                 0.0002 
                 0.0003 
                 0.0003 
               
               
                 Coefficient 
               
               
                 Resistivity 
                 0.6 × 10 3   
                 0.7 × 10 3   
                 1.0 × 10 3   
                 1.3 × 10 3   
                 1.6 × 10 3   
                 2.1 × 10 3   
                 3.3 × 10 3   
                 5.9 × 10 3   
                 2.1 × 10 3   
                 2.1 × 10 3   
               
               
                 (μΩ · cm) 
               
               
                 Sheet 
                 400 
                 500 
                 700 
                 900 
                 1000 
                 1400 
                 2200 
                 4000 
                 1400 
                 1400 
               
               
                 Resistance 
               
               
                 (Ω/sq.) 
               
               
                 Transmittance 
                 95.56 
                 95.56 
                 95.61 
                 95.66 
                 95.67 
                 95.67 
                 95.67 
                 95.67 
                 95.78 
                 ≈100 
               
               
                 (%) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     The results shown in Tables 2 and 3 and  FIGS. 4 and 5  reveal that, regardless of the type of transparent conductive film, the extinction coefficient of the transparent conductive film can be made small by controlling the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas at 3×10 −3  or more. 
     The results shown in Table 2 and  FIG. 4  reveal that if the transparent conductive film is an ITO film, the extinction coefficient of the transparent conductive film can be further reduced by controlling the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas at 4×10 −3  or more. 
     The results shown in Tables 2 and 3 and  FIGS. 4 and 5  reveal also that, regardless of the type of transparent conductive film, the extinction coefficient of the transparent conductive film can be still further reduced by controlling the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas at 5×10 −3  or more. 
     The results shown in Table 3 and  FIG. 5  reveal that if the transparent conductive film is an ITiO film, the extinction coefficient of the transparent conductive film can be made particularly low by controlling the ratio of the flow rate of O 2  gas to the flow rate of rare gas at 10×10 −3  or more. 
     The results shown in Tables 2 and 3 reveal that when the transparent conductive film is an ITiO film, the extinction coefficient thereof can be further reduced than when the transparent conductive film is an ITO film. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The transparent electrode of the present invention is suitable for optical communication devices using infrared light, such as tunable filters and tunable lasers.