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 of manufacturing an electrode for a lithium secondary cell capable of attaining excellent charge/discharge characteristics with high discharge capacity is obtained by properly controlling the state of a component of a collector diffusing into active material layers each consisting of a plurality of layers when forming the active material layers on both sides of the collector. This method of manufacturing an electrode for a lithium secondary cell comprises steps of forming a first active material layer consisting of a plurality of layers on a first surface of a collector by a method supplying raw material through discharge into a vapor phase and forming a second active material layer consisting of a plurality of layers on a second surface of the collector by the method supplying raw material through discharge into a vapor phase, while forming at least one layer constituting the second active material layer before forming all layers constituting the first active material layer.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a lithium secondary cell capable of preventing an active material layer from oxidation and moisture absorption is obtained. This method of manufacturing a lithium secondary cell comprises steps of forming an active material layer on a collector by a method supplying raw material through discharge into a vapor phase and holding the collector formed with the active material layer at least under an inert atmosphere or under a vacuum atmosphere up to preparation of the cell. Thus, the collector formed with the active material layer is prevented from exposure to the atmosphere, whereby the active material layer is prevented from oxidation and moisture absorption. Consequently, a lithium secondary cell having excellent characteristics can be prepared.

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: 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 of manufacturing an electrode for a secondary cell capable of readily forming an active material layer only on a necessary portion of a collector by a method supplying raw material from a gas phase is obtained. This method of manufacturing an electrode for a secondary cell comprises steps of forming a mask layer containing a material reduced in adhesion to a collector due to a high temperature for forming an active material layer on a prescribed region of the collector, forming the active material layer on the collector and on the mask layer by a method supplying raw material from a gas phase and removing the mask layer and part of the active material layer formed on the mask layer. Thus, the mask layer is readily separated from the collector after the active material layer is formed by the method supplying raw material from a gas phase.

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery comprises a negative electrode containing lithium metal or a material previously storing lithium as an active material, a positive electrode containing a positive active material, and an electrolyte containing a non-aqueous electrolyte solution. The positive active material is a thin film formed by depositing on a substrate from vapor phase or liquid phase and including an oxide containing at least iron as a main constituent by a sputtering method, a reactive deposition method, a vacuum deposition method, a chemical vapor deposition method, a spraying method, a plating method, or a method in combination of these methods.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electrode for a secondary battery by depositing a thin film composed of active material on a current collector in which a surface-treated layer such as an antirust-treated layer is formed, including the steps of: removing at least part of the surface-treated layer by etching the surface of the current collector with an ion beam or plasma in order to improve the diffusion of the current collector material into the active material thin film; and depositing the thin film on the surface of the current collector subjected to the etching step.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an electrode for lithium secondary battery characterized by applying a tension to a metallic foil so as to pull an area of the metallic foil on which a thin film composed of active material is deposited, from the both sides in the direction of longitude, when depositing the thin film on the metallic foil serving as a current collector.

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.

Abstract: A nonaqueous electrolyte rechargeable battery including a positive electrode comprising a molybdenum metal oxide deposited, in the form of a thin film, on an aluminum-containing substrate and represented by the formula Mo1−xMxO2−y (where M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, Cu, Al, Mg, W, Sc, Ti, Zn, Ga, Ge, Nb, Rh, Pd and Sn, x satisfies the relationship 0.005≦x≦0.5, and y satisfies the relationship 0.6≦y≦1.2).

Abstract: The present invention is to prevent a back metal electrode film from being insufficiently processed even if an amorphous silicon related material film is thinned, wherein a transparent conductive film 2, an amorphous silicon related material film 3, and a back metal electrode film 4 are formed in this order on one main surface of a light transmissive insulation substrate 1, a brittle film 5 having higher hardness than that of the back metal electrode film 4 in at least a fused state is provided on the back metal electrode film 4, and an energy beam is irradiated from the other main surface of the light transmissive insulation substrate 1, to remove the amorphous silicon related material film 3, the back metal electrode film 4, and the brittle film 5.

Abstract: A thin film magnetic head includes a magnetoresistive element portion movable over and relative to a magnetic recording medium for reading information stored therein, upper and lower shielding layers disposed with the magnetoresistive element portion therebetween for magnetically shielding the magnetoresistive element portion, and upper and lower gap insulative layers respectively interposed between the upper shielding layer and the magnetoresistive element portion and between the lower shielding layer and the magnetoresistive element portion. Each of the upper and lower gap insulative layers includes a hydrogen-incorporated film. The upper gap insulative layer has an increased hydrogen content and a reduced internal stress relative to the lower gap insulative layer.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device is disclosed which includes a piezoelectric substrate upon which a surface wave propagation film, which is comprised of a diamond-like carbon or aluminum nitride film, is provided.

Abstract: The invention discloses a novel flat display panel suited for use with computer terminal equipment, television sets, or the like. The flat display panel first confines light in a core layer of a light wave guide, and then diminishes refractive index in part of the core layer by applying a specific vltage to it. Light transmitted from part of the core layer having diminished refractive index is then outputted outside from the light wave guide. Using the externally outputted light, the flat display panel displays figures. The flat display panel embodied by the invention minimizes the total thickness of the display panel itself. It effectively allows display of figures in a sizable visual area, and yet, allows display of figures at an extremely fast speed as well.

Abstract: A field effect transistor comprises a source electrode, a drain electrode, a channel layer between the source electrode and the drain electrode, a gate electrode for controlling electric current in the channel layer, and a superlattice layer interposed between the channel layer and the gate electrode, the superlattice layer having a plurality of constituent thin layers perpendicular to a direction of electric current in the channel layer.