The present invention relates to a device for an electrochemical cell, comprising a first layer of substrate material having a plurality of first hydrophilic areas of the substrate and at least one hydrophobic area separating said first hydrophilic areas, the first layer of substrate material comprising at least two first electrodes made on at least two first hydrophilic areas; a second layer of substrate material having a plurality of second hydrophilic areas of the substrate and at least one hydrophobic area separating said second hydrophilic areas, the second layer of substrate material comprising at least two second electrodes made on at least two second hydrophilic areas; and one or more electrical conductors connected to at least two of said first electrodes. The first layer of substrate material and the second layer of substrate material are positioned on top of one another such that the at least two first electrodes are aligned with the at least two second electrodes in order to form at least two electrochemical cells for producing voltage when the at least two hydrophilic areas are contacted with an aqueous liquid.

The present invention relates to a device for an electrochemical cell, comprising a first layer of substrate material having a plurality of first hydrophilic areas of the substrate and at least one hydrophobic area separating said first hydrophilic areas, the first layer of substrate material comprising at least two first electrodes made on at least two first hydrophilic areas; a second layer of substrate material having a plurality of second hydrophilic areas of the substrate and at least one hydrophobic area separating said second hydrophilic areas, the second layer of substrate material comprising at least two second electrodes made on at least two second hydrophilic areas; and one or more electrical conductors connected to at least two of said first electrodes. The first layer of substrate material and the second layer of substrate material are positioned on top of one another such that the at least two first electrodes are aligned with the at least two second electrodes in order to form at least two electrochemical cells for producing voltage when the at least two hydrophilic areas are contacted with an aqueous liquid.

An electrolyte is introduced into an electrochemical device, passed, via a first corrugation feature, through a first electrode of the electrochemical device, passed through an ion permeable separator, and contacted with a second electrode. The first or second electrode comprises a second corrugation feature in fluid communication with the first corrugation feature to contact the electrolyte across a portion of an active surface of the first or second electrode.

A Water Activated Battery characterized by a) At least one anode selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, zinc and alloys thereof; b) A cathode comprising at least one basic copper salt comprising Cu(OH).sub.2 combined with a copper salt CuX (with n1 the molar ratio between the CuX and the Cu(OH).sub.2 in the basic copper salt), such that a discharge reaction in saline versus a Mg anode could be written nMg+Cu(OH).sub.2.(n-1)CuX=Mg(OH).sub.2+(n1)MgX+nCu) on a skeletal frame, the cathode further comprising a soluble, ionically conductive material; c) at least one cavity separating said cathode and said at least one anode; and d) a housing surrounding said at least one anode, cathode and cavity; (e) a lower aperture at the base of the housing for ingress of water and for expelling of heavier than water products of post immersion reaction, and (f) an upper aperture located near top of the housing for venting hydrogen generated by the post immersion reaction, wherein the upper aperture is positioned below the top of housing to create a cavity to provide a void for trapping hydrogen, so that hydrogen is only expelled from the cavity via the upper aperture after a quantity has accumulated, and is expelled in bubbles having a diameter of at least one millimeter.

A Water Activated Battery characterized by a) At least one anode selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, zinc and alloys thereof; b) A cathode comprising at least one basic copper salt comprising Cu(OH).sub.2 combined with a copper salt CuX (with n1 the molar ratio between the CuX and the Cu(OH).sub.2 in the basic copper salt), such that a discharge reaction in saline versus a Mg anode could be written nMg+Cu(OH).sub.2.(n-1)CuX=Mg(OH).sub.2+(n1)MgX+nCu) on a skeletal frame, the cathode further comprising a soluble, ionically conductive material; c) at least one cavity separating said cathode and said at least one anode; and d) a housing surrounding said at least one anode, cathode and cavity; (e) a lower aperture at the base of the housing for ingress of water and for expelling of heavier than water products of post immersion reaction, and (f) an upper aperture located near top of the housing for venting hydrogen generated by the post immersion reaction, wherein the upper aperture is positioned below the top of housing to create a cavity to provide a void for trapping hydrogen, so that hydrogen is only expelled from the cavity via the upper aperture after a quantity has accumulated, and is expelled in bubbles having a diameter of at least one millimeter.

A water-activated power generating device comprising a silicon slice having a cut, a first water storage element, and a fixing ring sandwiched by the silicon slice and the first water storage element and having an inner space. The water-activated power generating device further comprises a conductive rod penetrating the silicon slice, the fixing ring, and the first water storage element. The water-activated power generating device further comprises an electrode structure having a hollow cylinder shape and an isolation film disposed adjacent to an inner surface of the electrode structure. Electrolytic powder is disposed in a space between the isolation layer and the conductive rod; and a bottom conductive plate is disposed at the bottom of the electrode structure and electrically connected to the inner surface of the electrode structure.

A power source system including a plurality of cells. The power source system uses electrical charge or current generated by a reaction in at least one of the cells to provide at least one operating material to at least one other of the cells. Optionally, the power source system uses the electrical charge generated by the reaction in the at least one of the cells to provide the at least one operating material to the at least one other of the cells only when the state of charge of the at least one of the cells is equal to or below a threshold or when the use of the cell is equal to or above a threshold. Optionally, in an initial or non-operational state, one or more or each of the cells is dry or without the at least one operating material and the power source system is configured to selectively switch at least one of the plurality of cells from the non-operational state to an operational state by providing the at least one operating material to the at least one cell.

A biocompatible electronic device incorporating a point-of-use-activated microbattery, the biocompatible electronic device comprising: a housing; a sealed control electronics chamber formed within the housing; control electronics contained within the sealed control electronics chamber for controlling the operation of the biocompatible electronic device; a sealed electrode chamber formed within the housing; a plurality of electrodes contained within the sealed electrode chamber and connected to the control electronics; an access port formed within the housing for providing fluid access to the interior of the sealed electrode chamber; and a removable tab for selectively sealing the access port; such that, upon removal of the removable tab, a contacting fluid can contact the electrodes and act as an electrolyte for activating the microbattery, whereby to enable the microbattery to power the control electronics for the biocompatible electronic device.

A biocompatible electronic device incorporating a point-of-use-activated microbattery, the biocompatible electronic device comprising: a housing; a sealed control electronics chamber formed within the housing; control electronics contained within the sealed control electronics chamber for controlling the operation of the biocompatible electronic device; a sealed electrode chamber formed within the housing; a plurality of electrodes contained within the sealed electrode chamber and connected to the control electronics; an access port formed within the housing for providing fluid access to the interior of the sealed electrode chamber; and a removable tab for selectively sealing the access port; such that, upon removal of the removable tab, a contacting fluid can contact the electrodes and act as an electrolyte for activating the microbattery, whereby to enable the microbattery to power the control electronics for the biocompatible electronic device.

Provided is a method for generating an electrical current. The method includes: introducing water between the anode and at least one cathode of an electrochemical cell, to form an electrolyte; anaerobically oxidizing aluminum or an aluminum alloy; and electrochemically reducing water at the at least one cathode. When the cell is in operation, the hydroxyaluminate (Al(OH).sub.4.sup.) in the electrolyte reaches a concentration maximum and thereafter a concentration minimum. The concentration maximum is above 125% of the saturation concentration and below 2000% of the saturation concentration. The concentration minimum is below 125% of the saturation concentration and above 50% of the saturation concentration.