Pinhole-free solid state electrolytes with high ionic conductivity

A method of depositing a high ionic conductivity solid state electrolyte layer, comprising:

• depositing a layer of high ionic conductivity solid state electrolyte material on an electrode;
• after said depositing said layer, inducing and maintaining a plasma over said layer to provide ion bombardment of said layer for pinhole reduction in said layer;
• and
• repeating said depositing and inducing and maintaining steps until a predetermined thickness of high ionic conductivity solid state electrolyte material is deposited;
• wherein said high ionic conductivity solid state electrolyte comprises a uniform distribution of particles of an enhancing material incorporated within a solid state electrolyte material, said particles increasing the ionic conductivity for lithium ion movement through said solid state electrolyte.

A method of depositing a high ionic conductivity electrolyte layer, comprising:

• depositing a first layer of solid state electrolyte material on an electrode;
• after said depositing said first layer of electrolyte material, inducing and maintaining a plasma over said first layer of electrolyte material to provide ion bombardment of said first layer of electrolyte material for pinhole reduction in said first layer of electrolyte material;
• depositing a continuous layer of enhancing material on the ion bombarded surface of said first layer of solid state electrolyte material;
• depositing a second layer of solid state electrolyte material on said continuous layer of enhancing material;
• after said depositing said second layer of electrolyte material, inducing and maintaining a plasma over said second layer of electrolyte material to provide ion bombardment of said second layer of electrolyte material for pinhole reduction in said second layer of electrolyte material;
• repeating said depositing a continuous layer of enhancing material, depositing a second layer of solid state electrolyte material, and inducing and maintaining a plasma over said second layer of electrolyte material steps until a predetermined number of continuous layers of enhancing material are deposited;
• wherein the continuous layers of enhancing material increasing the ionic conductivity for lithium ion movement through the solid state electrolyte.