Fluid-surfaced electrode

1. An electrochemical device, comprising: two electrodes including a cathode and an anode; and an electrolyte that is separate and distinct from the two electrodes and is arranged to conduct an ionic current from a first electrolyte surface in contact with one of the electrodes to a second electrolyte surface in contact with the other electrode, wherein the cathode includes a first electrochemically active fluid layer that is disposed over and clings to a first microfeatured fluid-directing structure arranged to engage the electrolyte, wherein the anode includes a second electrochemically active fluid layer that is disposed over and clings to a second microfeatured fluid-directing structure arranged to engage the electrolyte, wherein at least one of the first microfeatured fluid-directing structure and the second microfeatured fluid-directing structure is configured to direct at least one of the first electrochemically active fluid layer according to a first predetermined flow pattern and the second electrochemically active fluid layer according to a second predetermined flow pattern, and wherein the electrolyte includes a reaction product of at least a portion of the cathode with at least a portion of the anode.

2. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first microfeatured fluid-directing structure is configured to direct the first electrochemically active fluid according to the first predetermined flow pattern.

3. The electrochemical device of claim 2 , wherein the second microfeatured fluid-directing structure is configured to direct the second electrochemically active fluid according to the second predetermined flow pattern.

4. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first microfeatured fluid-directing structure is configured to retain the first electrochemically active fluid at a first predetermined location.

5. The electrochemical device of claim 4 , wherein the second microfeatured fluid-directing structure is configured to retain the second electrochemically active fluid at a second predetermined location.

6. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first microfeatured fluid-directing structure includes a fluid channel.

7. The electrochemical device of claim 6 , wherein a dimension of the fluid channel varies along its length.

8. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first microfeatured fluid-directing structure includes a plurality of fluid channels, and wherein at least two of the fluid channels are connected.

9. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the electrochemical device is configured to change dynamically a property of the first microfeatured fluid-directing structure.

10. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first microfeatured fluid-directing structure includes fluid-directing structures configured to direct a plurality of fluids, each according to a predetermined flow pattern.

11. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first microfeatured fluid-directing structure is configured to vary spatially the contact between the first electrochemically active fluid layer and the electrolyte.

12. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte is further arranged to conduct an ionic current from the second electrolyte surface to the first electrolyte surface.

13. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte includes a solid surface impervious to the electrochemically active fluid.

14. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte includes an ion-transport fluid through which an ion can move to produce the ionic current.

15. The electrochemical device of claim 14 , wherein the electrolyte further includes a solid structure.

16. The electrochemical device of claim 14 , wherein the ion-transport fluid is in contact with the first electrochemically active fluid layer at only one electrode.

17. The electrochemical device of claim 14 , wherein the ion-transport fluid is in contact with both of the first and second electrochemically active fluid layers.

18. The electrochemical device of claim 14 , wherein the ion-transport fluid is immiscible with the first electrochemically active fluid.

19. The electrochemical device of claim 14 , wherein the ion-transport fluid is connected to an external reservoir.

20. The electrochemical device of claim 14 , wherein the electrolyte is configured to remove heat by flow of the ion-transport fluid.

21. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein a reaction product of at least a portion of the cathode with at least a portion of the anode is intermixed with the first electrochemically active fluid.

22. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrochemically active fluid layer includes a fluid selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a paste, a gel, an emulsion, and a non-Newtonian fluid.

23. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrochemically active fluid layer includes a carrier fluid that is not electrochemically active.

24. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrochemically active fluid layer includes a thixotropic fluid.

25. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrochemically active fluid layer wets the electrolyte.

26. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrochemically active fluid layer clings to the electrolyte.

27. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the anode includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, mercury, tin, cesium, rubidium, and potassium.

28. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the cathode includes at least one element selected from the group consisting of gallium, iron, mercury, tin, sulfur, and chlorine.

29. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the electrolyte includes at least one material selected from the group consisting of perchlorate, ether, graphene, polyimide, succinonitrile, polyacrylonitrile, polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, ethylene carbonate, beta-alumina, and an ion-conducting glass.

30. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrochemically active fluid layer includes a dissolved gas.

31. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrochemically active fluid layer includes a liquid metal.

32. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrochemically active fluid layer is connected to an external reservoir.

33. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid layer is configured to transport heat energy away from the battery.

34. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first microfeatured fluid-directing structure and the second microfeatured fluid-directing structure directs, respectively, the first electrochemically active fluid according to a first predetermined flow pattern and the first electrochemically active fluid according to a first predetermined flow pattern during operation of the electrochemical device.

35. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein the first electrochemically active fluid layer includes a fluid selected from the group consisting of a liquid, a paste, an emulsion, and a non-Newtonian fluid.

36. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second microfeatured fluid-directing structures comprises a pattern of regions having different wetting properties with respect to the electrochemically active fluid.

37. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second microfeatured fluid-directing structures comprises a plurality of fluid channels.

38. The electrochemical device of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second microfeatured fluid-directing structures comprises a plurality of interconnected fluid channels.