Appeal No. 2002-2221
Application No. 08/847,946
BACKGROUND
Appellants’ invention relates to treating metals, metal alloys and metal oxides to
enhance their electrical conductivity. According to Appellants, metal and metal alloys have
a native oxide present on the surface which acts as an insulating layer. (Specification, p. 5).
Claims 1 and 9, which are representative of the claimed invention, appear below:
1. 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, 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.
9. A method of improving electrical conductivity of metals, metal alloys and
metal oxides in making an electrode comprising:
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