Abstract: An electrochemical cell comprises at least the following layers stacked in the following order: a first electrode layer, an electrolyte layer, a second electrode layer, a current collector layer, and a protective cover; the protective cover comprising an electrically-insulating material. The cell further comprises an electrically-conductive contact pad that is configured to enable connection of the cell to external devices, the contact pad being provided on an external side of the protective cover that is opposed to the current collector layer, and comprising an exposed surface that is bounded about its perimeter by the electrically-insulting material. An electrically-conductive pathway is provided between the contact pad and the current collector layer, the electrically-conducive pathway extending through the protective cover and contacting a face of the current collector layer at a connection site.

Abstract: A method of processing a stack of layers to provide a stack of discrete layer elements, comprises the steps of: providing a stack of layers comprising: #a first layer (20) provided by a first material; #a third layer (16) provided by a solid electrolyte; and #a second layer (18) located between the first and third layers, the second layer having a thickness of at least 500 nm and being provided by a second material comprising at least 95 atomic % amorphous silicon; removing a through-thickness portion of the first layer (20) to form a first discrete layer element (20a) provided by the first material; removing a through-thickness portion of the second layer (18) to form a second discrete layer element (18a) provided by the second material, the second discrete layer element being located between the first discrete layer element (20a) and the solid electrolyte; and etching the third layer (16) using the second discrete layer element (18a) as an etching mask, to form a third discrete layer element (16a) provided