Achievement

Three-dimensional microscale batteries have the potential to provide integrated on-chip power for a range of next generation sensors and device. While primary batteries of this type have already been produced, producing rechargeable 3-D microbatteries, requires new materials. Specifically, we need routes to deposit conformal electrolyte coatings that can be used to separate the anode from the cathode. Through a collaborative effort between MCTP fellows in chemistry and materials science, we developed and characterized the first electrolyte films deposited through plasma polymerization. The plasma deposited films are similar to polyethyelene oxide (PEO), making them good electronic insulators. Film thickness is tunable on the nanometer scale, and after lithiation the polymer films show ionic conductivity of 10-8 S/cm, as determined by impedance spectroscopy. These PEO-like films thus contain all the needed attributes to facilitate new microscale lithium ion batteries architectures.