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.

A Nickel iron battery using a mono-block housing that has cells with leak-proof intercell connections. The intercell connections use compressed grommets to prevent fluid transfer between the cells. Each cell generates a charge that can be connected in series or parallel as required. The cells use an electrode plate that enables a manufacturing process which yields higher efficiency, higher throughput, and significantly lower battery cost. The anode composition of the cells has iron powder to increase cathode utilization, therefore lowering cathode material usage and lowering production cost.

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.

According to one aspect, a feedstock for fabricating an iron electrode of an electrochemical cell may include iron-containing particles of a first material, sulfide-containing particles of a second material different from the first material, and a barrier material different from each of the first material and the second material, the barrier material at least partially physically separating the sulfide-containing particles from the iron particles, the at least partial physical separation of the iron-containing particles from the sulfide-containing particles maintainable by the barrier material at temperatures at which iron in the iron-containing particles bonds in the solid state.

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.

Provided is an alloy powder for an electrode which enables an alkaline storage battery to have both excellent discharge characteristics and excellent life characteristics. The alloy powder includes a hydrogen storage alloy including an element L, Mg, Ni, Al, and an element M.sup.a. The element L is at least one selected from the group consisting of group 3 elements and group 4 elements of the periodic table (excluding Y). The element M.sup.a is at least two selected from the group consisting of Ge, Y, and Sn. A molar proportion x of Mg in a total of the element L and Mg is 0.008x0.54. A molar proportion y of Ni, a molar proportion of Al, and a molar proportion of the element M.sup.a, per the foregoing total is 1.6y4, 0.0080.32, and 0.010.12, respectively.

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 au 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 some pathway, and exposed to a gas headspace above the electrolyte level by a first gas pathway.

Provided are a method of preparing iron oxide nanoparticles, iron oxide nanoparticles prepared thereby, and an anode material including the iron oxide nanoparticles.

Provided is a process for preparing an electrode comprising an iron active material. The process comprises first fabricating an electrode comprising an iron active material, and then treating the electrode with a gaseous oxidant to thereby create an oxidized surface. The resulting iron electrode is preconditioned prior to any charge-discharge cycle to have the assessable surface of the iron active material in the same oxidation state as in discharged iron negative electrodes active material.

A nickel iron battery comprising a housing, an electrolyte solution contained within the housing, an anode comprising iron configured to be retained within the housing and the electrolyte solution, an cathode comprising nickel configured to be retained within the housing and the electrolyte solution, and a separator configured to be retained within the hosing and the electrolyte solution, wherein the separator is interposed between the cathode and the anode.