Abstract: An information recording medium (100) of the present invention is an information recording medium that allows information to be recorded thereon by being irradiated with an optical beam or by being applied with electrical energy, and includes at least a recording layer (115) whose phase can change. The recording layer (115) contains antimony (Sb), carbon (C), and a light element (L) having an atomic weight of less than 33. The light element (L) preferably is at least one element selected from B, N, O, Mg, Al, and S. For example, the recording layer (115) may be composed of a material represented by a composition Sb100-x-yCxLy, where the subscripts 100-x-y, x, and y denote composition ratios of Sb, C, and the L in atomic percentage, respectively, and x and y satisfy x+y?50.

Abstract: The information recording medium of the present invention includes a recording layer whose phase can be changed by application of electrical energy. The recording layer contains, as a main component, a material consisting of Ge, Te, and Sb. The material has a composition within a region defined by point (a) (35, 35, 30), point (b) (32.5, 27.5, 40), point (c) (25, 25, 50), and point (d) (27.5, 32.5, 40) and including lines from point (a) to point (b), from point (b) to point (c), from point (c) to point (d), and from point (d) to point (a), respectively, when coordinates (Ge, Te, Sb)=(x, y, z) are plotted on a triangular coordinate system shown in FIG. 1.

Abstract: An information recording medium (100) of the present invention is an information recording medium that allows information to be recorded thereon by being irradiated with an optical beam or by being applied with electrical energy, and includes at least a recording layer (115) whose phase can change. The recording layer (115) contains antimony (Sb), carbon (C), and a light element (L) having an atomic weight of less than 33. The light element (L) preferably is at least one element selected from B, N, O, Mg, Al, and S. For example, the recording layer (115) may be composed of a material represented by a composition Sb100-x-yCxLy, where the subscripts 100-x-y, x, and y denote composition ratios of Sb, C, and the L in atomic percentage, respectively, and x and y satisfy x+y?50.