Abstract: A thin-film transistor comprises a gate electrode formed on an insulating substrate, a gate insulating film covering the gate electrode and the insulating substrate, an i-type semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating film, and a source electrode and a drain electrode electrically connected to two ends of the i-type semiconductor layer, respectively. The gate electrode is made of aluminum alloy containing high-melting-point metal such as Ti and Ta and oxygen or nitrogen or both.

Abstract: A thin-film transistor comprises a gate electrode formed on a glass substrate, a gate insulating film formed essentially over an entire surface of the substrate to cover the gate electrode, a non-single-crystal silicon semiconductor film placed on the gate insulating film to cover the gate electrode; and a drain electrode and a source electrode spaced a specified distance apart on the semiconductor film and electrically connected to the semiconductor film so as to form the channel region of the transistor. The gate electrode is made of titanium-containing aluminum.

Abstract: A method of forming a transparent conductive thin film by sputtering includes the step of placing a target consisting of a conductive oxide material and a substrate on which the thin film is to be formed in a pressure vessel, the step of supplying argon gas and oxygen gas after the pressure vessel is substantially evacuated, the step of supplying a sputtering current to the target to maintain a discharge state, the step of detecting the partial pressure of oxygen in the gas mixture in the pressure chamber, and the step of controlling the flow rate of oxygen gas. The flow rate of the oxygen gas is controlled by a control unit such that the value of the partial pressure of oxygen which is detected in the partial pressure detection step is always kept constant.