Abstract: An electrochemical cell structure comprises a conductive base, that defines a plurality of holes, and a grid layer disposed on the conductive base. A porous support layer at least partially interpenetrates the grid layer to at least one of the conductive base or the holes.

Abstract: Evaporated ceramic coatings are prepared by furnishing an ingot of a ceramic material, treating the ingot to reduce sources of gas within the ingot, and evaporating the ceramic material in the ingot by melting the surface of the ingot with an intense heat source. The evaporated ceramic is deposited upon a substrate as the ceramic coating. The reduced gas content of the ingot decreases the incidence of spitting and eruptions from the molten surface of the ingot, thereby improving the quality of the deposited coating, and facilitating increases in evaporation rates and coatings process production rates.