Methods for manufacturing solid state ionic devices
First Claim
1. A method for preparing a multilayer thin film solid state ionic device comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a substrate;
b) depositing a first layer including one or more electron-conductive, lithium-resistive materials onto said substrate;
c) depositing a second layer including one or more electron-conductive, lithium-conductive materials onto said first layer;
d) inserting a quantity of lithium ions into said second layer so as to form a lithium-enriched second layer;
e) depositing a third layer including one or more electron-resistive, lithium-conductive materials onto said lithium-enriched second layer;
f) sputter depositing onto said third layer a fourth layer including one or more electron-conductive, lithium-conductive materials having the formula Liy MO2 wherein M is a transition metal of the third, fourth, or fifth row of the periodic table, whereby said fourth layer is lithium-deficient;
g) applying, in the presence of a plasma, a positive electrical potential to said second layer until virtually all of the lithium ions present therein are expelled therefrom, whereby a number of lithium ions are added to said fourth layer, said number of lithium ions added to said fourth layer not exceeding the number of lithium ions needed to cure the lithium-deficiency therein; and
h) depositing a fifth layer including one or more electron-conductive, lithium-resistive materials onto said fourth layer.
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Abstract
A multilayer, thin film solid state ionic device usable as an electrochromic window and/or as a rechargeable battery and a method for its manufacture. In one embodiment, the device comprises a transparent substrate and a thin film, five layered coating, the coating being deposited onto the substrate. The device is made by depositing a first layer of indium tin oxide onto the substrate, depositing a second layer of tungsten trioxide onto the first layer, inserting a quantity of lithium ions into the second layer so as to form a lithium-enriched second layer, depositing a third layer of lithium niobate onto the lithium-enriched second layer, sputter depositing a fourth layer of LiCoO2 onto the third layer, whereby the fourth layer is lithium-deficient, applying, in the presence of a plasma, a sufficiently large positive electrical potential to the second layer so as to cause virtually all of the lithium ions inserted thereinto to be expelled therefrom, whereby a quantity of lithium ions are added to the fourth layer to ameliorate its lithium deficiency and whereby any lithium ions expelled from the second layer but not needed to cure the deficiency of lithium ions in the fourth layer are expelled into the plasma, and then depositing a fifth layer made of indium oxide onto said fourth layer.
127 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for preparing a multilayer thin film solid state ionic device comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a substrate; b) depositing a first layer including one or more electron-conductive, lithium-resistive materials onto said substrate; c) depositing a second layer including one or more electron-conductive, lithium-conductive materials onto said first layer; d) inserting a quantity of lithium ions into said second layer so as to form a lithium-enriched second layer; e) depositing a third layer including one or more electron-resistive, lithium-conductive materials onto said lithium-enriched second layer; f) sputter depositing onto said third layer a fourth layer including one or more electron-conductive, lithium-conductive materials having the formula Liy MO2 wherein M is a transition metal of the third, fourth, or fifth row of the periodic table, whereby said fourth layer is lithium-deficient; g) applying, in the presence of a plasma, a positive electrical potential to said second layer until virtually all of the lithium ions present therein are expelled therefrom, whereby a number of lithium ions are added to said fourth layer, said number of lithium ions added to said fourth layer not exceeding the number of lithium ions needed to cure the lithium-deficiency therein; and h) depositing a fifth layer including one or more electron-conductive, lithium-resistive materials onto said fourth layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for preparing a multilayer thin film solid state ionic device comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a substrate including one or more electron-conductive, lithium-conductive materials; b) inserting a quantity of lithium ions into said substrate so as to form a lithium-enriched substrate; c) depositing a first layer including one or more electron-resistive, lithium-conductive materials onto said substrate; d) sputter depositing onto said first layer a second layer including one or more electron-conductive, lithium-conductive materials having the formula Liy MO2 wherein M is a transition metal of the third, fourth, or fifth row of the periodic table, whereby said second layer is lithium-deficient; e) applying, in the presence of a plasma, a positive electrical potential to said second layer until virtually all of the lithium ions present therein are expelled therefrom, whereby the lithium-deficiency of said second layer is ameliorated; and f) depositing a third layer including one or more electron-conductive, lithium-resistive materials onto said second layer.
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16. A method for preparing a multilayer thin film solid state ionic device comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a substrate; (b) after step (a), depositing a layer of one or more electron-conductive, lithium-resistive materials; (c) after step (b), depositing a layer of one or more electron-conductive, lithium-conductive materials; (d) after step (c), inserting a quantity of lithium ions into the layer deposited in step (c); (e) after step (d), depositing a layer of one or more electron-resistive, lithium-conductive materials; (f) after step (e), sputter depositing a layer of one or more electron-conductive, lithium-conductive materials having the formula Liy MO2 wherein M is a transition metal of the third, fourth, or fifth row of the periodic table; (g) after step (f), applying, in the presence of a plasma, a positive electrical potential to said second layer so as to cause at least some of the lithium ions inserted thereinto to be expelled therefrom; and (h) after step (g), depositing a layer of one or more electron-conductive, lithium-resistive materials.
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Specification