Patent ID: 8137524

Claim:
A device for electrically controlled transport of ions between a source and a target electrolyte, comprising: a source electrode and a target electrode, each capable of conducting ions and electrons, wherein said source electrode is arranged to receive ions from said source electrolyte and said target electrode is arranged to release ions to said target electrolyte, and a material configured to retain one of said source and target electrolytes on the device, arranged such that the electrolyte is in contact with the desired electrodes, and an ion-conductive channel, arranged to receive ions from said source electrode, to release ions to said target electrode and to provide an ionic connection between said source and said target electrodes, wherein said electrodes and said ion-conductive channel are formed of solid or semi-solid materials which are directly or indirectly attached to a support, and further comprising a current-limiting material that limits an electronic current between said source and said target electrodes, such that at least after a voltage is applied across said channel a potential difference between said source and target electrodes is maintained, which effects ion transport from said source to said target electrode.