In manufacturing a lithium battery, a plasma deposition of a layer of LiPON is made on a structure that includes an anode contact zone and a cathode contact zone. Before making the deposition of layer of LiPON, a conductive portion is deposited to short the anode contact zone to the cathode contact zone. After the deposition of the layer of LiPON in completed, the conductive portion is cut to sever the short between the anode and cathode contact zones.