A method for renovation of a consumed anode in a metal-air cell without dismantling the cell comprises 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 comprises 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 anaerobic aluminum-water electrochemical cell is provided. The electrochemical cell includes: a plurality of electrode stacks, each electrode stack comprising an aluminum or aluminum alloy anode, and at least one cathode configured to be electrically coupled to the anode and having a surface characterized by an electrochemical roughness factor of at least 5 and a mean pore diameter of at least 50 m; one or more physical separators between each electrode stack adjacent to the cathode; a housing configured to hold the electrode stacks, an electrolyte, and the physical separators; and a water injection port, in the housing, configured to introduce water into the housing.

An anaerobic aluminum-water electrochemical cell is provided. The electrochemical cell includes: a plurality of electrode stacks, each electrode stack comprising an aluminum or aluminum alloy anode, and at least one cathode configured to be electrically coupled to the anode and having a surface characterized by an electrochemical roughness factor of at least 5 and a mean pore diameter of at least 50 m; one or more physical separators between each electrode stack adjacent to the cathode; a housing configured to hold the electrode stacks, an electrolyte, and the physical separators; and a water injection port, in the housing, configured to introduce water into the housing.

A method is disclosed for producing a battery preparing a first electrode by providing a substrate and depositing onto the substrate at least one silicon-based semiconductor layer of a specific porosity, in particular a doped micro-crystalline silicon layer that may comprise additions of Ge, Sn and/or C; treating the semiconductor layer using laser radiation for fully or partially varying the porosity, in particular by increasing the porosity of active regions for accommodating ions, in particular lithium-ions, or for reducing the porosity of inactive regions, for decreasing the ion-absorption capacity; arranging the first electrode together with a second electrode and an electrolyte within a housing; and contacting the two electrodes and connecting with external terminals accessible from outside the housing. Also disclosed is a battery made according to the disclosed method.

A method is disclosed for producing a battery preparing a first electrode by providing a substrate and depositing onto the substrate at least one silicon-based semiconductor layer of a specific porosity, in particular a doped micro-crystalline silicon layer that may comprise additions of Ge, Sn and/or C; treating the semiconductor layer using laser radiation for fully or partially varying the porosity, in particular by increasing the porosity of active regions for accommodating ions, in particular lithium-ions, or for reducing the porosity of inactive regions, for decreasing the ion-absorption capacity; arranging the first electrode together with a second electrode and an electrolyte within a housing; and contacting the two electrodes and connecting with external terminals accessible from outside the housing. Also disclosed is a battery made according to the disclosed method.

An anode composition, an alkali battery, a method of making a battery anode, and a method of making a battery, wherein the anode comprises a zinc or zinc alloy and a surfactant of formula (I): ##STR00001## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are each individually selected from hydrogen, C.sub.1-C.sub.12 alkyl, and aryl; y is null or 1, x is an integer from 2 to 30, n is an integer from 2 to 6, and M is hydrogen or an alkali metal; provided that: when two of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are hydrogen, at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 is a C.sub.4-C.sub.12 alkyl or aryl; or, when each of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 are alkyl or aryl, at least one of R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 comprises a C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alkyl or aryl; or when R.sub.1 is hydrogen, then (a) each of R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 comprises a C.sub.2-C.sub.12 alkyl or aryl or (b) at least one of R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 comprises a C.sub.3-C.sub.12 alkyl or aryl.

A high capacity primary electrochemical lithium cell includes an anode comprising metallic lithium, a hybrid cathode comprising a liquid SO.sub.2 cathode and a solid cathode including a cathode material characterized by having a first electromotive force (EMF) when coupled to a metallic lithium anode. The first EMF is greater than a second EMF of a cell having a metallic lithium anode and a liquid SO.sub.2 cathode. A separator may separate the anode from the solid cathode. The cell includes an electrolyte solution including at least one ionizable salt dissolved in at least one organic solvent. The solid cathode material may include carbon monofluoride (CF.sub.X), a transition metal oxide, a mixture of two or more transition metal oxides or any combinations of such cathode materials. The solid cathode may also include a binder and a carbon based conductive material.

A high capacity primary electrochemical lithium cell includes an anode comprising metallic lithium, a hybrid cathode comprising a liquid SO.sub.2 cathode and a solid cathode including a cathode material characterized by having a first electromotive force (EMF) when coupled to a metallic lithium anode. The first EMF is greater than a second EMF of a cell having a metallic lithium anode and a liquid SO.sub.2 cathode. A separator may separate the anode from the solid cathode. The cell includes an electrolyte solution including at least one ionizable salt dissolved in at least one organic solvent. The solid cathode material may include carbon monofluoride (CF.sub.X), a transition metal oxide, a mixture of two or more transition metal oxides or any combinations of such cathode materials. The solid cathode may also include a binder and a carbon based conductive material.

A method of forming a precursor substance for forming an electrode of an electrochemical cell. The method comprises providing particles of an electrode-forming material and coating the particles with an inert material to form coated particles. The inert material is inert with respect to the electrode-forming material. The coated particles are mixed with a liquid or gel carrier medium to form the precursor substance. Useful new electrochemical products are provided.