Abstract: The invention relates to devices incorporating thin, lightweight electrochemical cells and their method of manufacture, whereby a thin flexible pouch-type cell (1) comprises at least one pair of overlying electrode layers separated from one another by an intermediate electrolyte layer (13), the cell exterior being defined by first and second laminated sheets (3, 9) sealed together, wherein each laminated sheet (3, 9) has an outermost layer (3a, 9a) forming a respective external face of the cell (1) and a coextensive, innermost, conductive layer (3b, 9b) that acts as a current collector layer (3b, 9b) and which supports an electrode layer (5, 11), although the conductive layer may also itself act as the active electrode layer.

Abstract: A thermally emissive apparatus (2) having an electro-thermal heating element (6) comprising a layer (8) of a first material having a first resistivity and a plurality of discrete regions (10) of a second material having a second resistivity substantially lower than that of the first material in electrical contact with the first material. The plurality of regions (10) of second material are arranged spatially so as to impart a predetermined effective sheet resistivity to the first layer (8). A plurality of heating elements may be used having a common first layer (30) of first material, wherein the spatial arrangement of the regions (10) of second material within a first heating element are optionally different to that within a second heating element. In this configuration the first and second heating elements may emit infrared radiation (14) having different intensities. The apparatus (2) finds applications as a thermal target and as an electro-thermal ice protection device.

Abstract: The invention relates to devices incorporating thin, lightweight electrochemical cells and their method of manufacture, whereby a thin flexible pouch-type cell (1) comprises at least one pair of overlying electrode layers separated from one another by an intermediate electrolyte layer (13), the cell exterior being defined by first and second laminated sheets (3, 9) sealed together, wherein each laminated sheet (3, 9) has an outermost layer (3a, 9a) forming a respective external face of the cell (1) and a coextensive, innermost, conductive layer (3b, 9b) that acts as a current collector layer (3b, 9b) and which supports an electrode layer (5, 11), although the conductive layer may also itself act as the active electrode layer.

Abstract: A thermally emissive apparatus (2) having an electro-thermal heating element (6) comprising a layer (8) of a first material having a first resistivity and a plurality of discrete regions (10) of a second material having a second resistivity substantially lower than that of the first material in electrical contact with the first material. The plurality of regions (10) of second material are arranged spatially so as to impart a predetermined effective sheet resistivity to the first layer (8). A plurality of heating elements may be used having a common first layer (30) of first material, wherein the spatial arrangement of the regions (10) of second material within a first heating element are optionally different to that within a second heating element. In this configuration the first and second heating elements may emit infrared radiation (14) having different intensities. The apparatus (2) finds applications as a thermal target and as an electro-thermal ice protection device.