Tantalum produced by ultra-high vacuum vapour quenching has been identified on the basis of various forms of
evidence as amorphous tantalum. Tantalum in this amorphous form has a resistivity of 230 μΩ cm and a temperature
coefficient of resistivity (TCR) of –60 ppm/K. The films are stable below –90°C. At higher temperatures the
amorphous structure suddenly turns into coarse-grained α tantalum.Alloying with a mole fraction of 20% to 55% resulted in amorphous tantalum-nickel films with a temperature
coefficient between –300 ppm/K and +500 ppm/K. The structure of the tantalum-nickel films, which are stable up
to 300°C, was investigated by transmission electron microscopy.Deposition of the tantalum on substrates heated to temperatures between –80°C and +150°C resulted in β tantalum, which turned into α tantalum between 160°C and 240°C. The appearance of positive and negative
temperature coefficients in the amorphous films indicates that even in the amorphous state different conduction
mechanisms may exist. According to the clean deposition conditions no influence of the residual gas on the film
properties can be expected.