Patent ID: 7288224

Claim:
A method of producing a sputtering target which comprises a target material comprising as constituent elements Ag, In, Te and Sb with the respective atomic percents (atom. %) of α, β, γ and δ thereof being in the relationship of: 0.5≦α<8, 5≦β≦23, 17≦γ≦38, 32≦δ≦73, α≦β, and α+β+γ+δ=100. comprising the steps of: fusing a mixture of Ag, In and Te elements to prepare a fused mixture; cooling said fused mixture to prepare a solid lump; pulverizing said solid lump to prepare finely-divided particles; mixing said finely-divided particles with Sb; and sintering the mixture of said finely-divided particles and Sb.