Abstract: A battery comprises at least one battery cell on a support, the battery cell comprising (i) an electrolyte between a plurality of electrodes, and (ii) a top surface. A protective casing having a barrier layer contacts the top surface of the battery cell, the barrier layer comprising (i) an oxygen permeability or nitrogen permeability that is less than 80 cm3*mm/(m2*day), (ii) a carbon dioxide permeability that is less than 1 cm3*mm/(m2*day), and (iii) a water permeability that is less than 4 g*mm/(m2*day). A conformal coating covers the barrier layer, the conformal coating having a viscosity that is less than about 100,000 Pa-s at about 150° C. A cap is adhered to the conformal coating.

Abstract: A battery comprises at least one battery cell on a support, the battery cell comprising (i) an electrolyte between a plurality of electrodes, and (ii) a top surface. A protective casing having a barrier layer contacts the top surface of the battery cell, the barrier layer comprising (i) an oxygen permeability or nitrogen permeability that is less than 80 cm3*mm/(m2*day), (ii) a carbon dioxide permeability that is less than 1 cm3*mm/(m2*day), and (iii) a water permeability that is less than 4 g*mm/(m2*day). A conformal coating covers the barrier layer, the conformal coating having a viscosity that is less than about 100,000 Pa-s at about 150° C. A cap is adhered to the conformal coating.

Abstract: A solid-state lithium battery cell comprises a support, and a plurality of electrodes on the support, the electrodes comprising a cathode and an anode. An electrolyte lying between the cathode and anode comprises an oxygen-rich electrolyte layer. In another version, a multilayer electrolyte comprises an oxygen-rich electrolyte layer and an oxygen-deficient electrolyte layer.

Abstract: A lithium battery comprises at least one battery cell on a support, the battery cell comprising a plurality of electrodes about an electrolyte. A protective casing comprises a cover spaced apart from and covering the battery cell to form a gap therebetween with a polymer filling the gap. In one version, the polymer comprises polyvinylidene chloride polymer. First and second terminals extend out of the protective casing, the first and second terminals being connected to different electrodes of the battery cell.

Abstract: A solid-state lithium battery cell comprises a support, and a plurality of electrodes on the support, the electrodes comprising a cathode and an anode. An electrolyte lying between the cathode and anode comprises an oxygen-rich electrolyte layer. In another version, a multilayer electrolyte comprises an oxygen-rich electrolyte layer and an oxygen-deficient electrolyte layer.

Abstract: A lithium battery comprises a support, and a plurality of battery component layers on the support, the battery component layers including a cathode having a cathode area with a plurality of cathode perimeter edges. An electrolyte is on the cathode, and an anode is on the electrolyte. The anode comprises an anode area with a plurality of anode perimeter edges, each anode perimeter edge having a corresponding cathode perimeter edge that lies adjacent to and below the anode perimeter edge. The anode area is sized so that at least one anode perimeter edge is terminated before its corresponding cathode perimeter edge to define a gap between the anode perimeter edge and the corresponding cathode perimeter edge, the gap having a gap distance G.

Abstract: A battery fabrication method includes forming on a substrate, at least a portion of a battery cell having a plurality of battery component films that include an underlying film with an overlying metal-containing film. A beam incident area of the metal-containing film is locally heated by directing onto the metal-containing film, an energy beam maintained at a fluence of at least about 800 J/cm2. The metal-containing film is heated to a temperature that is at least 100° C. higher than the temperature attained by the underlying film.

Abstract: A lithium battery comprises a battery support and a cathode current collector directly on and in contact with the battery support. The cathode current collector is composed of molybdenum and comprises a thickness of at least about 0.01 microns. A cathode is on the cathode current collector, an electrolyte on the cathode, and at least one of an anode or anode current collector on the electrolyte.

Abstract: A method of depositing lithium-containing films on a battery substrate in a sputtering chamber is provided. At least one pair of sputtering targets that each comprise a lithium-containing sputtering member is provided in the sputtering chamber, the sputtering targets selected to each have a conductivity of at least about 5×10?6 S·cm?1. A substrate carrier holding at least one battery substrate is placed in the sputtering chamber. A pressure of sputtering gas is maintained in the sputtering chamber. The sputtering gas is energized by applying to the pair of sputtering targets, an electrical power at a frequency of from about 10 to about 100 kHz.

Abstract: A battery packaging method comprises providing a battery comprising at least one battery cell on a substrate, the battery cell comprising a plurality of electrodes about an electrolyte, and the battery having at least one open peripheral side surface. A thermoplastic bead is provided at an open peripheral side surface of the battery. A cap is placed over the battery and in contact with the thermoplastic bead. The thermoplastic bead is locally heated by directing an energy beam onto the thermoplastic bead, the energy beam having a beam width sized sufficiently small to heat a beam incident region on the thermoplastic bead substantially without heating adjacent regions.

Abstract: A plasma chamber for depositing a battery component material on a partially fabricated battery cell comprising a battery component layer containing charge-carrying metal species and having an exposed surface. The chamber comprises a support carrier to hold a battery support comprising the partially fabricated battery cell. A mesh screen is positioned at a preset distance from the support carrier, the mesh screen having a plurality of mesh openings. An exhaust maintains a pressure of the process gas in the plasma chamber. A plasma power source is capable of applying an electrical power to the process gas to generate a plasma from the process gas for plasma deposition, during which the mesh screen is capable of reducing migration of the charge-carrying metal species across the battery component layer.

Abstract: A plasma deposition method deposits a battery component material on a partially fabricated battery cell comprising a battery component layer containing charge-carrying metal species and having an exposed surface. A mesh screen is maintained at a preset distance from the exposed surface, the mesh screen having a plurality of mesh openings. A process gas is energized to form a plasma by applying an electrical power to deposit the battery component material onto the exposed surface of the battery component layer. The mesh screen reduces migration of the charge-carrying metal species in the battery component layer to the exposed surface of the partially fabricated battery cell.

Abstract: A lithium battery comprises a battery support and a cathode current collector directly on and in contact with the battery support. The cathode current collector is composed of molybdenum and comprises a thickness of at least about 0.01 microns. A cathode is on the cathode current collector, an electrolyte on the cathode, and at least one of an anode or anode current collector on the electrolyte.

Abstract: A lithium battery comprises a support, and a plurality of battery component layers on the support, the battery component layers including a cathode having a cathode area with a plurality of cathode perimeter edges. An electrolyte is on the cathode, and an anode is on the electrolyte. The anode comprises an anode area with a plurality of anode perimeter edges, each anode perimeter edge having a corresponding cathode perimeter edge that lies adjacent to and below the anode perimeter edge. The anode area is sized so that at least one anode perimeter edge is terminated before its corresponding cathode perimeter edge to define a gap between the anode perimeter edge and the corresponding cathode perimeter edge, the gap having a gap distance G.

Abstract: A plasma deposition method deposits a battery component material on a partially fabricated battery cell comprising a battery component layer containing charge-carrying metal species and having an exposed surface. A mesh screen is maintained at a preset distance from the exposed surface, the mesh screen having a plurality of mesh openings. A process gas is energized to form a plasma by applying an electrical power to deposit the battery component material onto the exposed surface of the battery component layer. The mesh screen reduces migration of the charge-carrying metal species in the battery component layer to the exposed surface of the partially fabricated battery cell.

Abstract: A battery comprises at least one battery cell on a support, the battery cell comprising a plurality of electrodes about an electrolyte, and having a surface. A thermoplastic material covers the surface of the battery cell, the thermoplastic material comprising a nitrogen permeability or oxygen permeability that is less than 20 cm3*mm/(m2*day). A cap covers the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A battery fabrication method includes forming on a substrate, at least a portion of a battery cell having a plurality of battery component films that include an underlying film with an overlying metal-containing film. A beam incident area of the metal-containing film is locally heated by directing onto the metal-containing film, an energy beam maintained at a fluence of at least about 800 J/cm2. The metal-containing film is heated to a temperature that is at least 100° C. higher than the temperature attained by the underlying film.

Abstract: A method of depositing lithium-containing films on a battery substrate in a sputtering chamber is provided. At least one pair of sputtering targets that each comprise a lithium-containing sputtering member is provided in the sputtering chamber, the sputtering targets selected to each have a conductivity of at least about 5×10?6 S·cm?1. A substrate carrier holding at least one battery substrate is placed in the sputtering chamber. A pressure of sputtering gas is maintained in the sputtering chamber. The sputtering gas is energized by applying to the pair of sputtering targets, an electrical power at a frequency of from about 10 to about 100 kHz.

Abstract: A lithium battery comprises at least one battery cell on a support, the battery cell comprising a plurality of electrodes about an electrolyte. A protective casing comprises a cover spaced apart from and covering the battery cell to form a gap therebetween with a polymer filling the gap. In one version, the polymer comprises polyvinylidene chloride polymer. First and second terminals extend out of the protective casing, the first and second terminals being connected to different electrodes of the battery cell.

Abstract: A battery packaging method comprises providing a battery comprising at least one battery cell on a substrate, the battery cell comprising a plurality of electrodes about an electrolyte, and the battery having at least one open peripheral side surface. A thermoplastic bead is provided at an open peripheral side surface of the battery. A cap is placed over the battery and in contact with the thermoplastic bead. The thermoplastic bead is locally heated by directing an energy beam onto the thermoplastic bead, the energy beam having a beam width sized sufficiently small to heat a beam incident region on the thermoplastic bead substantially without heating adjacent regions.