Patent ID: 7579112

Claim:
An electrochemical device, comprising: a cathode and an anode separated from one another by a separator layer, said separator layer comprising an electrolyte, wherein at least one of the anode and the cathode has a structure selected from the group consisting of sintered particles, fibers and an open cell foam or sponge, wherein the separator layer has a thickness of less than or equal to 10 μm at at least one point, wherein the ratio of the anode dimension perpendicular to the separator layer to an average separator thickness is greater than about 5:1, and wherein the ratio of the cathode dimension perpendicular to the separator layer to an average separator thickness is greater than about 5:1; and wherein the anode and cathode are interpenetrating, wherein the interpenetration is such that the anode and the cathode are interlocking or infused with each other and separation of the anode and the cathode without a change in shape or connectivity of the anode or the cathode is prevented by their topology.