Dowa Mining Co., Ltd.

Kouki Toishi

Choju Nagata

Kenichi Harigae

Kohichiro Eshima

Hidekazu Kato

Shigetoshi Uchino

Shinji Sato

Katsuaki Okabe

Tsuyoshi Nishimura

Sintered ITO having a relative density of at least 88% and an oxygen content of 15.5-17.0 wt %, as well as an ITO sputtering target made of this sintered ITO. Using the target, an optimal range for the proportion of oxygen in a mixture of argon and oxygen gases used as a sputtering atmosphere is sufficiently expanded to permit the consistent formation of ITO films.

Sintered ITO and an ITO sputtering target

The starting salts for ITO production, precipitant and the conditions for reaction, calcination, etc. are specified such as to synthesize a starting oxide adapted to be free from volatile components such as halides and lower oxides; the starting oxide is dispersed to particles having a specified flowability; the powder is pressed into a compact, which is sintered in either air atmosphere or an oxygen-rich atmosphere to produce a large and high-density sinter for use as an ITO sputtering target.

Starting powders for ITO production, ITO sinters and processes for

An aqueous sodium carbonate solution is added in an equivalent amount to an aqueous silver nitrate solution (Ag=100 g/L) under stirring and, with nitric acid and sodium hydroxide being added to adjust the pH to 5.5-6.5, a silver carbonate precipitate is formed and subsequently washed thoroughly and dried at 250.degree. C. or below to produce a silver oxide powder, which satisfactory characteristics for use in cells, as exemplified by high water absorption, good shape of granules, high strength, non-stickiness to the molding punch, high fluidity and low residual carbon content. The pellet of the powder has high cell capacity.

Silver oxide for use in cells and a process for producing the same

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Honjo, Japan

Kouki Toishi