Silver (Ag) Sputtering Targets

Silver is a soft, lustrous element that belongs to the transition group of metals on the periodic table. It has a melting point of 962 ℃, a density of 10.5 g/cc, and vapor pressure of 10-4 Torr at 1,105 ℃. Silver has been used since ancient times in countless products. It is ductile, malleable, and the most electrically conductive of all metals. It is considered a precious metal and can be found in jewelry, solders, paints, and mirrors. It is evaporated under vacuum for the production of semiconductors, sensors, fuel cells, and optical coatings. Silver is the metallic element with the atomic number 47. Its symbol is Ag, from the Latin argentum, derived from the Greek (literally "shiny" or "white"), and ultimately from a Proto-Indo-European language root reconstructed as *h2er, "grey" or "shining". A soft, white, lustrous transition metal, it exhibits the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and reflectivity of any metal. The metal is found in the Earth's crust in the pure, free elemental form ("native silver"), as an alloy with gold and other metals, and in minerals such as argentite and chlorargyrite. Most silver is produced as a byproduct of copper, gold, lead, and zinc refini.