Patent ID: 6599580
Filing Date: 2003-07-29
Classification: C23C,H01G,H01M,Y02E,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of improving electrical conductivity of metals, metal alloys and metal oxides in making an electrode comprising:a) providing a substrate having an electrically insulating native oxide layer on a surface thereof, said substrate being selected from the group consisting of Group IVA, Group VA and Group VIA metals, aluminum, manganese, nickel, copper and stainless steel; b) depositing on said native oxide layer a metal selected from the group consisting of Group IA and Group VIIIA metals; c) directing a high energy beam onto said deposited metal and said native oxide layer to intermix the deposited metal with the native oxide; d) controlling the depth of intermixing of the deposited metal with the native oxide so as not to affect the bulk structure of said substrate; e) whereby said native oxide layer is changed from being electrically insulating to being more electrically conductive; and f) applying electrode material onto the native oxide layer so that the substrate is usable as an electrode.