Electrochemical cells

Abstract

An electrochemical cell comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, a porous separator, between the first and second electrodes, a first channel, having an inlet and an outlet, and a second channel, having an inlet and an outlet. The first channel is contiguous with the first electrode and the porous separator, and the second channel is contiguous with the second electrode and the porous separator.

1 . An electrochemical cell, comprising: 
 a first electrode,    a second electrode,    a porous separator, between the first and second electrodes,    a first channel, having an inlet and an outlet, and    a second channel, having an inlet and an outlet,    wherein the first channel is contiguous with the first electrode and the porous separator, and    the second channel is contiguous with the second electrode and the porous separator.    
     
     
         2 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , such that 
 when a first liquid flows through the first channel laminar flow is established, and    when a second liquid flows through the second channel laminar flow is established.    
     
     
         3 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is at most 1 cm.  
     
     
         4 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is at most 1 mm.  
     
     
         5 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is at most 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         6 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical cell is a fuel cell.  
     
     
         7 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is a gas diffusion electrode.  
     
     
         8 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 4 , wherein the first electrode is a gas diffusion electrode.  
     
     
         9 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the porous separator has a thickness of 1 to 100 microns.  
     
     
         10 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the porous separator has a pore size of 5 nm to 5 microns.  
     
     
         11 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the porous separator has a pore density of 10 6  to 10 11  pores/cm 2 .  
     
     
         12 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 1 , wherein the porous separator has a porosity of 0.1 to 50%.  
     
     
         13 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 6 , wherein the first electrode is a gas diffusion electrode.  
     
     
         14 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 13 , wherein a distance between the first electrode and the second electrode is at most 1 cm.  
     
     
         15 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 14 , wherein the porous separator has a thickness of 1 to 100 microns.  
     
     
         16 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 14 , wherein the porous separator has a pore size of 5 nm to 5 microns.  
     
     
         17 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 14 , wherein the porous separator has a pore density of 10 6  to 10 11  pores/cm 2 .  
     
     
         18 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 14 , wherein the porous separator has a porosity of 0.1 to 50%.  
     
     
         19 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 18 , wherein the porous separator has a thickness of 1 to 100 microns, a pore size of 5 nm to 5 microns, and a pore density of 10 6  to 10 11  pores/cm 2 .  
     
     
         20 . A method of generating electricity, comprising: 
 flowing a first liquid through a first channel; and    flowing a second liquid through a second channel;    wherein the first channel is contiguous with a first electrode and a porous separator,    the second channel is contiguous with a second electrode and the porous separator    the first liquid is in contact with the first electrode and the porous separator,    the second liquid is in contact with the second electrode and the porous separator, and    complementary half cell reactions take place at the first and second electrodes.    
     
     
         21 - 38 . (canceled)  
     
     
         39 . An electrochemical cell, comprising: 
 a first electrode,    a second electrode,    a first channel, contiguous with the first and second electrodes,    wherein the first electrode is a gas diffusion electrode,    such that when a first liquid flows through the channel in contact with the first electrode and a second liquid flows through the channel in contact with the second electrode, laminar flow is established in both the first and second liquids.    
     
     
         40 - 53 . (canceled)