Provided is an aqueous battery configured to use hydroxide ions (OH.sup.−) as carrier ions. The aqueous battery is an aqueous battery comprising a cathode layer, an anode layer and an aqueous liquid electrolyte, wherein the cathode layer contains, as a cathode active material, a graphite having a rhombohedral crystal structure; wherein the anode layer contains, as an anode active material, at least one selected from the group consisting of an elemental Zn, an elemental Cd, an elemental Fe, a Zn alloy, a Cd alloy, an Fe alloy, ZnO, Cd(OH).sub.2, Fe(OH).sub.2 and a hydrogen storage alloy; and wherein, as an electrolyte, at least one selected from the group consisting of KOH and NaOH is dissolved in the aqueous liquid electrolyte.

Novel pulsed aluminum batteries (PAlBs), including power output regulated systems, have been developed. PAlBs comprise an aluminum anode, a cathode, and a complex electrolyte containing bases, facilitating and stabilizing agents, and may contain internal oxidizers. The aluminum anode comprises technical grade or recycled aluminum. The cathode may comprise copper, nickel, or platinum. Bases may comprise sodium or potassium hydroxide. Facilitating and stabilizing agents may comprise sodium and lithium chlorides or sulfates. Internal oxidizers may comprise sodium hypochlorite. Frequency of electric pulses in novel PAlBs can be controlled by electric or chemical means. PAlBs can be used as components of backup power systems, in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and in autonomous self-powered electrochemical computing systems and sensors.

Systems and methods of the various embodiments may provide metal electrodes for electrochemical cells. In various embodiments, the electrodes may comprise iron. Various methods may enable achieving high surface area with low cost for production of metal electrodes, such as iron electrodes.

The present invention provides one with a NiFe battery exhibiting enhanced power characteristics. The battery uses a particular electrolyte. The resulting characteristics of specific power and power density are much improved over conventional NiFe batteries. The electrolyte comprises sodium hydroxide, with lithium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. The iron anode comprises an iron active material and a polyvinyl alcohol binder.

The present invention provides one with a NiFe battery exhibiting enhanced power characteristics. The battery uses a particular electrolyte. The resulting characteristics of specific power and power density are much improved over conventional NiFe batteries. The electrolyte comprises sodium hydroxide, with lithium hydroxide and sodium sulfide. The iron anode comprises an iron active material and a polyvinyl alcohol binder.

In an aspect, provided is an alkaline rechargeable battery comprising: i) a battery container sealed against the release of gas up to at least a threshold gas pressure, ii) a volume of an aqueous alkaline electrolyte at least partially filling the container to an electrolyte level; iii) a positive electrode containing positive active material and at least partially submerged in the electrolyte; iv) an iron negative electrode at least partially submerged in the electrolyte, the iron negative electrode comprising iron active material; v) a separator at least partially submerged in the electrolyte provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; vi) an auxiliary oxygen gas recombination electrode electrically connected to the iron negative electrode by a first electronic component, ionically connected to the electrolyte by a first ionic pathway, and exposed to a gas headspace above the electrolyte level by a first gas pathway.

Provided is an iron based electrode comprising a single layer of a conductive substrate coated on at least one side with a coating comprising an iron active material and a binder. The iron based electrode is useful in a NiFe battery as the anode. The electrode can also be prepared by continuously coating each side of the substrate with a coating mixture comprising the iron active material and binder.

The present invention provides one with a high cycle life NiFe battery. The battery uses a particular electrolyte. The electrolyte comprises sodium hydroxide, as well as lithium hydroxide and sulfide. The use of the sodium hydroxide based electrolyte with the iron anode in the battery has been found to enhance the performance characteristics of the battery. The resulting characteristics of cycle life, as well as power and charge retention, are much improved over conventional NiFe batteries.

Provided is a NiFe battery comprising an iron electrode which is preconditioned prior to any charge-discharge cycle. The preconditioned iron electrode used in the NiFe battery is prepared by first fabricating an electrode comprising an iron active material, and then treating the surface of the electrode with an oxidant to thereby create an oxidized surface.

The present disclosure relates to rechargeable electrochemical battery cells (molten air batteries). The cells use air and a molten electrolyte, are quasi-reversible (rechargeable) and have the capacity for multiple electrons stored per molecule and have high intrinsic electric energy storage capacities. The present disclosure also relates to the use of such in a range of electronic, transportation and power generation devices, such as greenhouse gas reduction applications, electric car batteries and increased capacity energy storage systems for the electric grid.