A thermal management apparatus includes an electrohydrodynamic fluid accelerator in which an emitter electrode and another electrode are energizable to motivate fluid flow. One of the electrodes includes a solid solution formed of a solvent metal having a first performance characteristic and a solute material having a second performance characteristic. The first and second performance characteristics are exhibited substantially independently in the electrode as the solvent metal and solute material remain substantially pure within the solid solution. A method of making an EHD product includes providing an electrode with such a solid solution and positioning the electrode relative to another electrode to motivate fluid flow when energized.