Electrochemical cell having a resilient flow field

An electrochemical cell for directly producing essentially dry halogen gas from essentially anhydrous hydrogen halide, comprising:

• (a) means for oxidizing molecules of essentially anhydrous hydrogen halide to produce essentially dry halogen gas and protons;
• (b) cation-transporting means for transporting the protons therethrough;
• (c) means for reducing the transported protons, wherein the cation-transporting means has one side disposed in contact with the reducing means;
• (d) current conducting means disposed on the other side of the reducing means for conducting current to and from the reducing means, the cation-transporting means and the oxidizing means;
• and
• (e) mass flow field means disposed between the reducing means and the current conducting means for providing uniform electrical contact between the reducing means and the current conducting means, wherein the mass flow field means comprises a resilient material.