A method of: placing a mixture of zinc particles; water; a water-soluble thickener; and water-insoluble inorganic porogen particles into a mold; evaporating the water to form a monolith; heating the monolith to fuse the zinc particles together; and submerging the monolith in a liquid that removes the porogen particles. A method of: placing a mixture of zinc particles; an aqueous acetic acid solution; and porogen particles into a mold; evaporating water to form a monolith; and submerging the monolith in a liquid that removes the porogen particles.

The invention provides a method of storing varying or intermittent electrical energy and one or more of hydrogen (H.sub.2) and oxygen (O.sub.2) with an energy apparatus, the method comprising: providing the first cell aqueous liquid, the second cell aqueous liquid, and electrical power from an external power source to the functional unit thereby providing an electrically charged functional battery unit and one or more of hydrogen (H.sub.2) and oxygen (O.sub.2) stored in said storage system, wherein during at least part of a charging time the functional unit is charged at a potential difference between the first cell electrode and the second cell electrode of more than 1.37 V.

The invention provides a method of storing varying or intermittent electrical energy and one or more of hydrogen (H.sub.2) and oxygen (O.sub.2) with an energy apparatus, the method comprising: providing the first cell aqueous liquid, the second cell aqueous liquid, and electrical power from an external power source to the functional unit thereby providing an electrically charged functional battery unit and one or more of hydrogen (H.sub.2) and oxygen (O.sub.2) stored in said storage system, wherein during at least part of a charging time the functional unit is charged at a potential difference between the first cell electrode and the second cell electrode of more than 1.37 V.

An alkaline electrochemical cell has a central cathode having a corresponding cathode current collector electrically connected with a positive terminal of the electrochemical cell. The cathode current collector has a tubular shape, such as a cylindrical shape or rectangular shape, extending parallel with the length of the central cathode. The cathode current collector is embedded within the central cathode, such as at a medial point of a radius of the central cathode, thereby minimizing the distance between the cathode current collector and any portion of the central cathode, thereby increasing the mechanical strength of the cathode and facilitating charge transfer to the cathode current collector.

Provided is a laminate battery in which a short circuit between a negative electrode active material and a positive electrode due to expansion of the negative electrode active material during discharging is prevented.

A laminate battery includes a battery case that serves as an outer case. The laminate battery includes an inner case within a battery case 11, and the inner case is formed of a positive electrode storage case and a separator. An inside of the inner case serves as a positive electrode storage portion that stores a positive electrode. An outside of the inner case serves as a negative electrode storage portion that stores a negative electrode. The negative electrode uses a particulate negative electrode active material (e.g., zinc or zinc oxide).

Electrodes for a metal-hydrogen battery are described. The electrodes include one or more porous layers, each of the porous layers including a porous substrate and a catalyst layer covering the porous substrate, the catalyst layer including a transition metal, wherein at least one of the at least one porous layer includes a surface with features that facilitate hydrogen gas transport. In some embodiments, an anode electrode includes a first porous layer having a first surface; and a second porous layer adjacent the first porous layer having a second surface, wherein the first surface of the first porous layer and the second surface of the second porous layer form hydrogen gas transport channels.

A rechargeable battery cell a casing and first and second electrode materials separately positioned in the casing. A mechanical impulse element is positioned to mechanically move and dislodge gas bubbles from at least one of the first and second electrode materials in response to activation. In some embodiments the mechanical impulse element can include a vibratory piezoelectric element. In other embodiments, a gas vent in the battery cell can be used to release dislodged gas bubbles.

A hydrogen absorbing alloy negative electrode is provided. The hydrogen absorbing alloy negative electrode has a hydrogen absorbing alloy, and an additive including yttrium fluoride. A mass of the yttrium fluoride is 0.1 parts by mass or more and 0.2 parts by mass or less based on a hydrogen absorbing alloy powder of 100 parts by mass.

Provided is encapsulated electroactive materials for use in rechargeable aqueous zinc cells, batteries, systems, and associated methods. A core-shell composite particle includes a core of electrochemically active material, and a shell of a polyelectrolyte matrix, substantially insoluble in water, yet allowing the transport of zinc cations to and from the electrochemically active core. A method for preparing the core-shell composite electrochemically active particle includes mechanically dispersing the electrochemically active material particles in association with the polyelectrolyte solution, insolubilizing the polyelectrolyte in the presence of the dispersed electrochemically active material particles, washing the encapsulated particles particle with water, and drying the washed encapsulated particles

An electrochemical cell comprises a can comprising a cylindrical side wall extending from a closed end wall. The closed end wall comprises a protrusion. The protrusion has a protrusion cavity therein. A pre-formed pellet of a first electrode material is disposed in the protrusion cavity. The electrochemical cell may further comprise a separator defining an inner cavity and separating the inner cavity from an outer cavity. The outer cavity is defined by the can and the separator. The electrochemical cell may further comprise a first electrode material disposed in the outer cavity; and a second electrode material disposed in the inner cavity.