Method of producing negative electrode for lithium secondary cell

A method of independently producing an independent negative electrode by itself, wherein said negative electrode includes a thin film of an inorganic solid electrolyte and is suitable for use in a lithium secondary cell, wherein said method comprises the following steps in sequence:

• a) providing a plurality of containers including at least one closed container containing a first source material of at least one of lithium metal and lithium alloys, and containing a second source material for use in forming said inorganic solid electrolyte;
• b) placing said at least one closed container into at least one inlet chamber space insulated from air;
• c) opening said at least one closed container in said at least one inlet chamber space, and taking out said first source material and said second source material from said at least one container in said at least one inlet chamber space;
• d) transferring said first source material and said second source material, without exposure to air, from said at least one inlet chamber space into a film forming apparatus that is adjacent and connected in an airtight manner to said at least one inlet chamber space;
• e) in said apparatus, carrying out a first film forming process using said first source material to form a base thin film of said first source material on a base material, and carrying out a second film forming process using said second source material to form said thin film of said inorganic solid electrolyte on said base thin film on said base material, to thereby make said independent negative electrode including said base material with said thin film formed thereon;
• f) transferring said independent negative electrode, without exposure to air, from said film forming apparatus into an outlet chamber space that is insulated from air and is adjacent and connected in an airtight manner to said film forming apparatus;
• g) in said outlet chamber space, without exposing said independent negative electrode to air, placing said independent negative electrode into a storage container selected from among said plurality of containers, and closing said storage container;
• and
• h) removing said storage container, with said independent negative electrode closed therein, from said outlet chamber space into an environment of atmospheric air.

A method of independently producing an independent negative electrode by itself, wherein said negative electrode includes a thin film of an inorganic solid electrolyte and is suitable for use in a lithium secondary cell, wherein said method comprises the following steps:

• a) providing a first closed container containing a first source material selected from the group consisting of lithium metal and lithium alloys;
• b) placing said first closed container into a first inlet chamber space insulated from air;
• c) opening said first closed container in said first inlet chamber space, and taking out said first source material from said first closed container in said first inlet chamber space;
• d) transferring said first source material, without exposure to air, from said first inlet chamber space into a first film forming apparatus that is adjacent and connected in an airtight manner to said first inlet chamber space;
• e) in said first film forming apparatus, carrying out a first film forming process using said first source material to form a first thin film of said first source material on a base material provided in said first film forming apparatus, to make an intermediate component including said first thin film on said base material;
• f) transferring said intermediate component, without exposure to air, from said first film forming apparatus into a first outlet chamber space that is insulated from air and is adjacent and connected in an airtight manner to said first film forming apparatus;
• g) in said first outlet chamber space, without exposure to air, placing said intermediate component into a temporary storage container, and closing said temporary storage container;
• h) providing a second closed container containing a second source material for use in forming said inorganic solid electrolyte;
• i) placing said temporary storage container and said second closed container into a second inlet chamber space insulated from air;
• j) opening said temporary storage container and said second closed container in said second inlet chamber space, and taking out said intermediate component and said second source material from said temporary storage container and said second container in said second inlet chamber space;
• k) transferring said intermediate component and said second source material, without exposure to air, from said second inlet chamber space into a second film forming apparatus that is adjacent and connected in an airtight manner to said second inlet chamber space;
• l) in said second film forming apparatus, carrying out a second film forming process using said second source material to form said thin film of said inorganic solid electrolyte on said intermediate component, to thereby make said independent negative electrode including said base material with said first thin film and said thin film of said inorganic solid electrolyte formed thereon;
• m) transferring said independent negative electrode, without exposure to air, from said second film forming apparatus into a second outlet chamber apace that is insulated from air and is adjacent and connected in an airtight manner to said second film forming apparatus;
• n) in said second outlet chamber space, without exposing said independent negative electrode to air, placing said independent negative electrode into a storage container and closing said storage container;
• and
• o) removing said storage container, with said independent negative electrode closed therein, from said second outlet chamber space into an environment of atmospheric air.