Patent ID: 7227235

Claim:
Apparatus for variably controlling a discharge of a battery, said apparatus comprising: an electrolyte fluid; a first electrode; and a nanostructured surface between said electrolyte fluid and said electrode for variably controlling a penetration of said electrolyte fluid into said nanostructured surface, said nanostructured surface comprising a plurality of nanostructures, each nanostructure having at least one dimension of less than one micrometer, said penetration being variably controlled as function of passing a voltage over said nanostructured surface such that prior to said passing of said voltage over said nanostructured surface said electrolyte fluid is suspended on said plurality of nanostructures thereby preventing contact of said electrolyte fluid with said first electrode, and upon said passing of said voltage over said nanostructured surface said electrolyte fluid is caused to penetrate said nanostructured surface and come in contact with said first electrode.