Liquid hetero-interface fuel cell device

A fuel cell device for generation of electricity from a conductive polar oxidizer liquid and a non-polar fuel fluid comprising:

• a cathode in contact with the polar oxidizer liquid;
• an anode in contact with the non-polar fuel fluid;
• and
• a separator for separating the polar oxidizer liquid from the non-polar fuel fluid, comprising a material lyophobic with respect to the polar oxidizer liquid, said separator having a plurality of apertures, said apertures sized and spaced to form a meniscus in each of said apertures, said meniscus providing a controlled contact surface and forming a liquid heterointerface between the conductive polar oxidizer liquid and the non-polar fuel fluid whereby oxidation processes occur in and about said liquid heterointerface.

A fuel cell device for generation of electricity from a conductive polar oxidizer liquid and a non-polar fuel fluid comprising:

• a cathode in contact with the polar oxidizer liquid;
• an anode in contact with the non-polar fuel fluid;
• and
• a separator for separating the polar oxidizer liquid from the non-polar fuel fluid, said separator comprising a material lyophobic with respect to the polar oxidizer liquid, said separator having a plurality of apertures, said apertures sized and spaced to form a meniscus in each of said apertures, said meniscus providing a controlled contact surface and forming a liquid heterointerface between the conductive polar oxidizer liquid and the non-polar fuel fluid, in and about which liquid heterointerface oxidation processes occur, said separator having an oxidizer side opposite from a fuel side, wherein said fuel side of said separator is coated with a conductive material to form said anode, said conductive material in electric contact with a perimeter of said meniscus, and said cathode is formed on said oxidizer side of said separator.

A method for generation of electricity from a conductive polar oxidizer liquid and a non-polar fuel fluid comprising the steps of:

• placing a cathode in contact with the polar oxidizer liquid;
• placing an anode in contact with the non-polar fuel fluid;
• and
• separating the polar oxidizer liquid from the non-polar fuel fluid, using a separator comprising a material lyophobic with respect to the polar oxidizer liquid, said separator having a plurality of apertures, said apertures sized and spaced to form a meniscus in each of said apertures, said meniscus forming a liquid heterointerface between the conductive polar oxidizer liquid and the non-polar fuel fluid whereby oxidation processes occur in and about said liquid heterointerface.