An electrochemical cell, comprising: a first layer; a second layer disposed on the first layer, wherein the second layer is porous and comprises a plurality of particles, wherein at least a portion of the particles are embedded in the first layer; wherein at least a portion of the plurality of particles comprise a non-ionically conductive material selected from the group consisting of alumina and silica; wherein the second layer further comprises an ionically conductive material or at least a portion of the plurality of particles comprise an ionically conductive material selected from the group consisting of Li x MP y S z, lithium nitrides, lithium nitrates, lithium silicates, lithium borates, lithium aluminates, lithium oxalates, lithium phosphates, lithium phosphorus oxynitrides, lithium silicosulfides, lithium germanosulfides, lithium oxides, lithium fluorides, lithium lanthanum oxides, lithium titanium oxides, lithium borosulfides, lithium aluminosulfides, lithium phosphosulfides, lithium oxysulfides, and combinations thereof, wherein x, y, and z are integers less than 32 and M is Sn, Ge, or Si; wherein the second layer has an ionic conductivity less than 10 -6 S/cm measured at 25 °C using an impedance measuring circuit operating at 1 kHz in the absence of any of electrolyte and solvent; wherein the second layer has an average thickness between 0.1 μm and 5 μm; and a liquid electrolyte; wherein the second layer is permeable to the liquid electrolyte, such that the second layer absorbs the liquid electrolyte within the pores of the second layer; the second layer having a porosity of at least 25% determined by mercury porosimetry; wherein the first layer either comprises lithium metal, or wherein the first layer is a separator. a first layer; a second layer disposed on the first layer, wherein the second layer is porous and comprises a plurality of particles, wherein at least a portion of the particles are embedded in the first layer; wherein at least a portion of the plurality of particles comprise a non-ionically conductive material selected from the group consisting of alumina and silica; wherein the second layer further comprises an ionically conductive material or at least a portion of the plurality of particles comprise an ionically conductive material selected from the group consisting of Li x MP y S z, lithium nitrides, lithium nitrates, lithium silicates, lithium borates, lithium aluminates, lithium oxalates, lithium phosphates, lithium phosphorus oxynitrides, lithium silicosulfides, lithium germanosulfides, lithium oxides, lithium fluorides, lithium lanthanum oxides, lithium titanium oxides, lithium borosulfides, lithium aluminosulfides, lithium phosphosulfides, lithium oxysulfides, and combinations thereof, wherein x, y, and z are integers less than 32 and M is Sn, Ge, or Si; wherein the second layer has an ionic conductivity less than 10 -6 S/cm measured at 25 °C using an impedance measuring circuit operating at 1 kHz in the absence of any of electrolyte and solvent; wherein the second layer has an average thickness between 0.1 μm and 5 μm; and a liquid electrolyte; wherein the second layer is permeable to the liquid electrolyte, such that the second layer absorbs the liquid electrolyte within the pores of the second layer; the second layer having a porosity of at least 25% determined by mercury porosimetry; wherein the first layer either comprises lithium metal, or wherein the first layer is a separator.