Abstract: A method of providing a semiconductor device with a selectively deposited inorganic electrically insulative layer, the device having exposed semiconductor surfaces and electrically conductive metal end terminations, in which the device is saturated in a phosphoric acid solution to form a phosphate layer on the exposed surfaces of the semiconductor but not on the metal end terminations. The device is thereafter plated by a conventional plating process and the plating is provided only on the end terminations.

Abstract: This invention features the use of redox reagents, dissolved in non-aqueous electrolytes, to provide overcharge protection for cells having lithium metal or lithium-ion negative electrodes (anodes). In particular, the invention features the use of a class of compounds consisting of thianthrene and its derivatives as redox shuttle reagents to provide overcharge protection. Specific examples of this invention are thianthrene and 2,7-diacetyl thianthrene. One example of a rechargeable battery in which 2,7-diacetyl thianthrene is used has carbon negative electrode (anode) and spinet LiMn.sub.2 O.sub.4 positive electrode (cathode).