The invention relates to an electrochemical cell which has an electrode, a membrane disposed in contact with one side of the electrode, and a resilient flow field disposed on the other side of the electrode. The resilient flow field provides uniform electrical contact with the electrode. Such a flow field is preferably an elastomer, which can be be made by molding techniques, thereby decreasing the cost and increasing the ease with which such a flow field may be manufactured. The resilient flow field of the present invention is particularly useful in converting anhydrous hydrogen halide directly to essentially dry halogen gas, such as anhydrous hydrogen chloride to chlorine gas, although it may be used in a cell which converts aqueous reactants.
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/431,589 filed May 1, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,220, issued Apr. 1, 1997, which was surrendered in favor of the present application. Said 08/431,589 application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Ser. No. 08/246,909, filed May 20, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,580,437, issued on Dec. 3, 1996, which was surrendered in favor of reissue application U.S. Applicaiton Ser. No. 09/093,535 filed June 8, 1998, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Ser. No. 08/156,196, now abandoned.
