Abstract: An optical information recording medium includes a substrate and a recording layer arranged on or above the substrate, configured to bear recording marks upon irradiation of energy beams, and containing a tin-based alloy. The optical information recording medium further includes at least one dielectric layer adjacent to the recording layer, and the at least one dielectric layer mainly includes at least one oxide of an element selected from silicon, magnesium, tantalum, zirconium, manganese, and indium.

Abstract: The invention relates to an Ag alloy reflective film for an optical information recording medium, including Ag as a main component, at least one kind of Nd, Gd, Y and Sm in a total amount of more than 0.1 atomic percent and not more than 3.0 atomic percent and at least one kind of W, Mo, V, Zr, Nb and Cr in a total amount of 3.0 to 10.0 atomic percent; an Ag alloy reflective film for an optical information recording medium, including Ag as a main component, at least one kind of Nd, Gd, Y and Sm in a total amount of more than 0.1 atomic percent and not more than 3.0 atomic percent and at least one kind of Ti and Ta in a total amount of 5.0 to 10.0 atomic percent; an optical information recording medium including the Ag alloy reflective film; and an Ag alloy sputtering target having a composition same as that of the Ag alloy reflective film.

Abstract: Provided is a recording layer for optical information recording media that is not only excellent in initial reflectivity, creation of recording marks, and the like but also extremely excellent in durability under a high temperature and high humidity environment and that can be adequately applied to a next generation optical disc using a blue-violet laser beam. The recording layer for optical information recording media used to create recording marks by irradiating a laser beam comprises a Sn-based alloy containing 5 to 50 atomic percent of In and/or 12 to 40 atomic percent of Zn.

Abstract: A silver alloy reflective film is used in an optical information recording medium and contains silver as a main component, a total of 1 to 10 atomic percent of at least one rare-earth element, and a total of 1 to 15 atomic percent of at least one selected from In, Sn, Al, and Mg, in which the total content of the at least one rare-earth element and the at least one selected from In, Sn, Al, and Mg is 5 atomic percent or more. The silver alloy reflective film preferably further contains 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of at least one of Bi and Sb. A silver alloy sputtering target has the same composition as the silver alloy reflective film.

Abstract: A silver alloy reflective film is used in an optical information recording medium and contains Ag as a main component, a total of 1 to 10 atomic percent of at least one selected from Nd, Gd, Y, Sm, La, and Ce, and a total of 2 to 10 atomic percent of at least one selected from Li, Mg, Al, Zn, Cu, Pt, Au, Pd, Ru, and Rh. The reflective film preferably further contains 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of at least one of Bi and Sb and/or 2 to 10 atomic percent of at least one selected from In, Sn, and Pb. An optical information recording medium includes the silver alloy reflective film. A silver alloy sputtering target has the same composition as the silver alloy reflective film.

Abstract: A silver alloy reflective film contains X1 as a component and has an enriched layer located in a region within 2 nm deep from the surface of the reflective film, in which the component X1 is enriched in the enriched layer at a higher concentration than the average concentration of X1 in the whole of the reflective film, wherein X1 is at least one alloying element selected from the group consisting of Bi, Si, Ge, Pb, Zn, Cd, Hg, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Sn, As, and Sb. The reflective film has stable and excellent basic properties as reflective films, such as initial reflectivity and durability, and satisfies further requirements, such as laser marking suitability. An optical information recording medium includes the reflective film and is excellent.

Abstract: A silver alloy reflective film is used in an optical information recording medium and contains silver as a main component, a total of 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of at least one of Bi and Sb, and a total of 3 to 42 atomic percent of at least one of Cu, Ge, Mg, and Zn. The silver alloy reflective film preferably further contains 0.1 to 3 atomic percent of yttrium. An optical information recording medium includes the silver alloy reflective film. A sputtering target for depositing the silver alloy reflective film contains silver as a main component, 0.01 to 3 atomic percent of Sb (or 0.03 to 10 atomic percent of Bi), and a total of 3 to 42 atomic percent of at least one of Cu, Ge, Mg, and Zn.

Abstract: A recording film for an optical information recording medium excellent in the productivity and also excellent in the durability (recording retainability), as well as an optical information recording medium, including: (1) a recording film for use in an optical information recording medium having a heat conductivity of 0.8 W/Kcm or less, a light absorptivity to a light at a wave length of from 0.3 ?n to 1.0 ?m of 15% or more and a melting temperature from 300 to 800° C., (2) an optical information recording medium in which the recording film comprises the recording films described above, and (3) a sputtering target for forming the recording film.