Patent ID: 8629488

Claim:
A method for manufacturing an energy storage device, comprising: providing a first dielectric material; forming a first conductive material over the first dielectric material, the first conductive material having a surface; forming a second dielectric material over the first conductive material; forming a second conductive material over the second dielectric material; patterning a first layer of photoresist on the second conductive material to form a first photoresist masking structure over the second conductive material, wherein patterning the first layer of photoresist leaves portions of the second conductive material laterally adjacent the first photoresist masking structure exposed; removing exposed portions of the second conductive material that are laterally adjacent the first photoresist masking structure to form an electrode having a surface and opposing edges, wherein removing exposed portions of the second conductive material exposes portions of the second dielectric material; forming a protective layer on the surface and opposing edges of the electrode and the exposed portions of the second dielectric material that are laterally adjacent to the opposing edges; patterning a second layer of photoresist over the protective layer to form a second photoresist masking structure over the electrode, wherein the second photoresist masking structure has edges that are laterally spaced apart from portions of the protective layer that are over the opposing edges of the electrode, and wherein patterning the second layer of photoresist exposes portions of the protective layer that are laterally spaced apart from the electrode; removing the exposed portions of the protective layer and the portions of the second dielectric material to expose portions of the first conductive material, wherein portions of the protective layer over the surface of the electrode and along the edges of the electrode remain and serve as a protective material; patterning a third layer of photoresist over the protective material, the patterned third layer of photoresist having an opening that exposes a portion of the first conductive material; and removing the exposed portion of the first conductive material so that the first conductive material has at least one sidewall and a portion of the first dielectric material is exposed.