Abstract: A method for preparing an electrode material for a lithium battery, characterized in that a noncrystalline silicon thin film that serves as an active material is deposited on a substrate.

Abstract: The electrode for a lithium secondary battery includes: a current collector; an interlayer containing Mo or W provided on the current collector; and a thin film composed of active material capable of lithium storage and release deposited on the interlayer.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode for lithium secondary battery formed by depositing a thin film composed of active material capable of lithium storage and release, on a metallic foil to be used as a current collector, in which the surface of the metallic foil is roughened through wet-etching and then the thin film is deposited on the roughened surface.

Abstract: An apparatus, for forming an electrode for a lithium secondary cell capable of readily forming an active material layer constituted by at least two elements and controlling the composition of the active material layer, comprises a first sputtering source for sputtering a first material forming the active material layer onto the surface of the collector and a second sputtering source for sputtering a second material forming the active material layer onto the surface of the collector. Plasma regions of the first and second sputtering sources are arranged to overlap each other. The active material layer constituted by at least two elements is readily formed with excellent reproducibility, and its composition can be readily controlled by independently controlling power applied to the first sputtering source and the second sputtering source.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery using an Li alloying metal as the active material of at least one of its positive and negative electrodes. The metal active material is covered with a thin film which is nonreactive with Li ions, permits passage of Li ions but does not have an Li ion conductivity.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery comprising an electrode in which an active material layer which includes an active material that electrochemically occludes and releases lithium is formed on a current collector, wherein cracks are formed in the active material layer by occlusion and release of lithium ions and thereafter a solid electrolyte is formed in the cracks in the active material layer.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery using molybdenum oxide in the form of thin film deposited on an aluminum-containing substrate, as a positive electrode material.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery which includes depositing a thin film composed of active material capable of alloy formation with lithium on a current collector made of a metal incapable of alloy formation with lithium, by using a process for depositing a thin film by supplying a material from a gas phase, characterized in that the thin film of active material is deposited at such a temperature that enables formation of a mixed layer via diffusion of a constituent of the current collector into the thin film in the vicinity of an interface therebetween.

Abstract: The method for producing an electrode for a lithium secondary battery, having an active material in the form of a thin film composed of an interface layer formed on a current collector and an active material layer formed on the interface layer. The method comprises the steps of: depositing the interface layer on the current collector by sputtering; and depositing the active material layer on the interface layer by vapor evaporation.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrode for a lithium secondary battery includes a step of forming an oxide film other than a natural oxide film on a current collector by oxidizing the surface of the current collector, and a step of forming an active material layer on the oxide film by a method to provide a material for the active material layer by emitting in the vapor phase, such as PVD (physical vapor deposition) including sputtering, vapor evaporation, and the like, and CVD (chemical vapor deposition) including plasma CVD.

Abstract: A method for treating a carbon film comprising, in sequence, depositing a carbon film onto a substrate by a plasma CVD technique and exposing the carbon film at its surface to a gas plasma produced utilizing at least one type of gas selected from an Ar gas, N2 gas, H2 gas and F-containing gas so that the carbon film surface is modified.

Abstract: The method for producing an electrode for a lithium secondary battery, having an active material in the form of a thin film composed of an interface layer formed on a current collector and an active material layer formed on the interface layer. The method comprises the steps of: depositing the interface layer on the current collector by sputtering; and depositing the active material layer on the interface layer by vapor evaporation.

Abstract: The electrode for a lithium secondary battery includes: a current collector; an interlayer containing Mo or W provided on the current collector; and a thin film composed of active material capable of lithium storage and release deposited on the interlayer.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming an electrode for a lithium secondary cell capable of readily forming an active material layer constituted by at least two elements and controlling the composition of the active material layer is obtained. The apparatus for forming an electrode for a lithium secondary cell comprises a first sputtering source for sputtering a first material forming the active material layer onto the surface of the collector and a second sputtering source for sputtering a second material forming the active material layer onto the surface of the collector. Plasma regions of the first and second sputtering sources are arranged to overlap with each other. Thus, the active material layer constituted by at least two elements is readily formed with excellent reproducibility. When power applied to the first sputtering source and the second sputtering source is controlled independently of each other, the composition of the active material layer constituted by at least two elements is readily controlled.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode for lithium secondary battery formed by depositing a thin film composed of active material capable of lithium storage and release, on a metallic foil to be used as a current collector, in which the surface of the metallic foil is roughened through wet-etching and then the thin film is deposited on the roughened surface.

Abstract: A rechargeable lithium battery using an Li alloying metal as the active material of at least one of its positive and negative electrodes. The metal active material is covered with a thin film which is nonreactive with Li ions, permits passage of Li ions but does not have an Li ion conductivity.