Patent ID: 7491458

Claim:
An electrochemical cell, comprising: a renewable active metal anode, configured for supplementation of the active metal, the anode comprising a first solid state lithium metal layer and a second solid state lithium metal layer and having a thin layer of Ag, Al, Sn or other Li alloy-forming metal interposed between the first and second lithium layers; a cathode structure comprising an electronically conductive component, an ionically conductive component, and a fluid oxidant; an ionically conductive protective membrane on the first surface of the anode, the membrane comprising, one or more materials configured to provide a first surface chemically compatible with the active metal of the anode in contact with the anode, and a second surface substantially impervious to and chemically compatible with the cathode structure and in contact with the cathode structure wherein the ionically conductive protective membrane comprises a composite, the composite comprising, a first material component in contact with the anode that is ionically conductive and chemically compatible with the anode, the first material component comprising a composite reaction product selected form the group consisting of Li with Cu 3 N, Li with red phosphorus and Li with PbI 2 ; and a second material component in contact with the first material component, the second material being substantially impervious, ionically conductive and chemically compatible with the first material component and the cathode structure.