TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRONICS - Preferred Apparatus: The apparatus (A1) comprises the negative electrode containing a current-collector contact foil (522) coated on a first major face with an anode material and the LiPON layer of the negative electrode; lithium anode material containing lithium metal plated onto a first major face of the current-collector contact foil through the LiPON layer covering the current-collector contact foil; and lithium cathode material (112) of a second battery cell is deposited onto a second major face of the current-collector contact foil of the negative electrode of the first battery cell, and a LiPON layer covering the cathode material of the second battery cell is then deposited by sputtering; or lithium cathode material is deposited onto both major faces of the positive electrode current-collector contact foil or cathode current-collector contact mesh (521), and the LiPON barrier/electrolyte layer covering the positive electrode is then deposited by sputtering on both major faces of the positive electrode. The apparatus further comprises an encapsulating material surrounding the battery cell (500); at least one electrical leads connecting from the battery cell to an exterior of the encapsulating material; an electronic device; and a housing holding the electrical device, where the battery cell is within the housing and supplies power to the electronic device. Preferred Method: The method further involves providing a third sheet that includes an anode material and a LiPON layer covering the anode material; providing a fourth sheet that includes a cathode material that includes lithium and a LiPON layer covering the cathode material; sandwiching a polymer electrolyte material between the LiPON layer covering the anode material of the third sheet and the LiPON layer covering the cathode material of the fourth sheet; and sandwiching a polymer electrolyte material between the LiPON layer covering the anode material of the third sheet and the LiPON layer covering the cathode material of the second sheet. The anode material of the first sheet is deposited as a lithium-metal layer on a copper anode-current-collector layer through the LiPON layer. The deposition of a lithium anode is done by electroplating in a propylene carbonate/lithium-salt electrolyte solution prior to assembling the cell. A mask defines the periphery of the lithium-metal layer, and the deposition of lithium anode is done by electroplating in a liquid-solvent/lithium-salt electrolyte solution. Preferred Components: The first sheet includes a cathode material on a face opposite the anode material and a LiPON layer covering the cathode material, and the second sheet includes an anode material on a face opposite the cathode material and a LiPON layer covering the anode material. Unit for passing ions between the LiPON layer on the first face of the third sheet and the LiPON layer on the second face of the fourth sheet to form a second battery cell; and unit for passing ions between the LiPON layer on the first face of the second sheet and the LiPON layer on the second face of the third sheet to form a third battery cell. The first sheet includes a copper anode current-collector layer. The unit for passing ions between the LiPON layer on the second face of the first sheet and the LiPON layer on the first face of the third sheet to form a series-connected pair of battery cells.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The cathode material includes LiCoO2 (lithium cobalt dioxide) that is deposited on a positive electrode current-collector material, and the LiPON layer of the positive electrode is deposited on the LiCoO2. The positive electrode current-collector material includes a metal mesh around which the cathode material is deposited. The positive electrode includes a current-collector metal layer, and the cathode material is deposited on both major faces of the metal layer and is at least partially covered by the LiPON layer. The negative electrode includes a negative-electrode current collector made of a metal that does not readily alloy with lithium during a plating operation, and lithium metal is plated onto the negative-electrode current collector through the LiPON layer covering the negative electrode; and a mask layer covers a periphery of the negative-electrode current collector and lithium metal is plated through the LiPON layer covering the negative electrode onto an area of the metal negative-electrode current collector defined by the mask (preferably includes a current-collector metal layer and an anode material, where the anode material includes lithium metal deposited on at least one of two major faces (preferably both major faces) of the metal layer, each face at least partially covered by the LiPON layer of the negative electrode). The metal of the negative-electrode current collector includes copper. The soft electrolyte layer includes a gel.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The soft electrolyte layer includes a polyvinylidene difluoride, propylene carbonate, and a lithium salt.