A method for renovation of a consumed anode in a metal-air cell without dismantling the cell according to embodiments of the present invention comprising circulating electrolyte through the cell to evacuate used slurry from the cell, circulating electrolyte with fresh slurry into the cell and allowing sedimentation of the fresh slurry inside the cell to form an anode and compacting the slurry to reduce the gaps between its particles. A meta-air cell enabling renovation of a consumed anode without dismantling the cell defining first outer face of the cell, air cathode layer adjacent the porous wall, separator wall disposed on the inner face of the air cathode layer, cell space volume to contain electrolyte and metal granules slurry, current collector layer to form an anode, made of current conductive material disposed in the space and flexible wall defining a second outer face of the cell wherein the flexible wall is adapted to be pushed towards inside of the cell subject to pressure applied to its outer face, thereby to reduce the volume of the space.

A method for renovation of a consumed anode in a metal-air cell without dismantling the cell according to embodiments of the present invention comprising circulating electrolyte through the cell to evacuate used slurry from the cell, circulating electrolyte with fresh slurry into the cell and allowing sedimentation of the fresh slurry inside the cell to form an anode and compacting the slurry to reduce the gaps between its particles. A meta-air cell enabling renovation of a consumed anode without dismantling the cell defining first outer face of the cell, air cathode layer adjacent the porous wall, separator wall disposed on the inner face of the air cathode layer, cell space volume to contain electrolyte and metal granules slurry, current collector layer to form an anode, made of current conductive material disposed in the space and flexible wall defining a second outer face of the cell wherein the flexible wall is adapted to be pushed towards inside of the cell subject to pressure applied to its outer face, thereby to reduce the volume of the space.

An alkaline electrochemical cell includes a cathode, an anode which includes an anode active material, and a non-conductive separator disposed between the cathode and the anode, wherein from about 20% to about 50% by weight of the anode active material relative to a total amount of anode active material has a particle size of less than about 75 m, and wherein the separator includes a unitary, cylindrical configuration having an open end, a side wall, and integrally formed closed end disposed distally to the open end.

An energy storage device includes a printed current collector layer, where the printed current collector layer includes nickel flakes and a current collector conductive carbon additive. The energy storage device includes a printed electrode layer printed over the current collector layer, where the printed electrode layer includes an ionic liquid and an electrode conductive carbon additive. The ionic liquid can include 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C.sub.2mimBF.sub.4). The current collector conductive carbon can include graphene and the electrode conductive carbon additive can include graphite, graphene, and/or carbon nanotubes.

An energy storage device includes a printed current collector layer, where the printed current collector layer includes nickel flakes and a current collector conductive carbon additive. The energy storage device includes a printed electrode layer printed over the current collector layer, where the printed electrode layer includes an ionic liquid and an electrode conductive carbon additive. The ionic liquid can include 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C.sub.2mimBF.sub.4). The current collector conductive carbon can include graphene and the electrode conductive carbon additive can include graphite, graphene, and/or carbon nanotubes.

An alkaline electrochemical cell includes a cathode, an anode which includes an anode active material, and a non-conductive separator disposed between the cathode and the anode, wherein from about 20% to about 50% by weight of the anode active material relative to a total amount of anode active material has a particle size of less than about 75 m, and wherein the separator includes a unitary, cylindrical configuration having an open end, a side wall, and integrally formed closed end disposed distally to the open end.

Various embodiments are directed to an electrochemical cell having a non-homogeneous anode. The electrochemical cell includes a container, a cathode forming a hollow cylinder within the container, an anode positioned within the hollow cylinder of the cathode, and a separator between the cathode and the anode. The anode comprises at least two concentric anode portions, defined by different anode characteristics. For example, the two anode portions may contain different surfactant types, which provides the two anode portions with different charge transfer resistance characteristics. By lowering the charge transfer resistance of a portion of an anode located proximate the current collector of the cell (and away from the separator) relative to an anode portion located adjacent the separator, improved cell discharge performance may be obtained.

A miniaturized electrochemical cell and a method for making it are provided. The method includes preparing at least one inner electrode of an electron conducting or semi-conducting material M1; providing a hollow support made of an electrically insulating material M6 and having at least one internal hollow channel; depositing on the external surface of the support a layer of an electrically conducting material M2; forming a template of colloidal particles of an electrically insulating material M3, on the M2 layer; depositing a layer of an electrically conducting material M4 on the M2 layer; depositing a layer L1 of an electron conducting or semi-conducting material M5 on the M4 layer, introducing the at least one inner electrode into the at least one internal hollow channel of the obtained structure; stabilizing the structure at its two open ends with an electrically insulating material M7; and removing M2, M3, M4 and M6 materials.

A miniaturized electrochemical cell and a method for making it are provided. The method includes preparing at least one inner electrode of an electron conducting or semi-conducting material M1; providing a hollow support made of an electrically insulating material M6 and having at least one internal hollow channel; depositing on the external surface of the support a layer of an electrically conducting material M2; forming a template of colloidal particles of an electrically insulating material M3, on the M2 layer; depositing a layer of an electrically conducting material M4 on the M2 layer; depositing a layer L1 of an electron conducting or semi-conducting material M5 on the M4 layer, introducing the at least one inner electrode into the at least one internal hollow channel of the obtained structure; stabilizing the structure at its two open ends with an electrically insulating material M7; and removing M2, M3, M4 and M6 materials.

A battery includes a battery case including a housing having side walls defining a first open end and a second open end, the battery case including a separate top cover to cover the first open end of the housing and a separate bottom cover to cover the second open end of the housing; a first electrode located within the case; a second electrode located within the case; a first terminal coupled to the first electrode and exposed outside the case; and a second terminal coupled to the second electrode and exposed outside the case.