Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus that causes film formation particles to adhere to a surface of a substrate moving in a hermetically-sealable chamber and thereby forms a thin film thereon and includes: a plasma generator; a substrate transfer unit; a film-formation source supplier; and a film-formation region limiter. The plasma generator includes a magnet located at the other surface of the substrate and a gas supplier that supplies a film forming gas to near the surface of the substrate. The film-formation region limiter includes a shield that is located close to the surface of the substrate and has an opening. The ratio of a diameter of the opening of the shield to a diameter of the plasma generated by the plasma generator in a direction along the surface of the substrate is in a range of less than or equal to 110/100.

Abstract: The invention provides an evaporator that is heated by an electron beam in vacuum, evaporates or sublimates a vapor-deposition material, and forms a lithium-containing compound coating on a surface of a substrate in transfer by codeposition. The evaporator includes a hearth liner that includes a cooler; and a plurality of liners that are accommodated in the hearth liner, each of which has the vapor-deposition material thereinside.

Abstract: The invention provides a film formation apparatus that includes: a transfer unit that transfers a substrate; a film formation unit that forms an electrolyte film on a film formation region of the substrate transferred by the transfer unit; and an extraneous-material removal unit that comes into contact with the electrolyte film of the substrate transferred by the transfer unit after film formation of the film formation unit and thereby removes extraneous materials contained in the film formation region.

Abstract: A thin film formation method according to an embodiment of the present invention includes depositing a lithium metal film on a base material in a vacuum chamber. A surface of the lithium metal film is oxidized in the vacuum chamber. The oxidized surface of the lithium metal film is carbonized in the vacuum chamber.