Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing activated carbon from tobacco leaves by simultaneous carbonization and self-activation in an inert gas environment. The activated carbon produced by this new method has a specific surface area from 600 to 2000 m2 g?1, preferably 1700 m2 g?1, and has an extensive amount of ultramicropores and mesopores, wherein the ratio of the micropore volume to the mesopore volume is at minimum of 3:1, up to 10:1, preferably 4:1. The average pore size (L0) is in the range of 0.55-1.3 nm, preferably 0.8-1.2 nm, with a total pore volume of 0.2 to 1.25 cm3 g?1. The invention also refers to an electrode comprising the activated carbon having the above properties as well as the electrochemical capacitor with such an electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrogen-air secondary cell that finds application for supplying electrical energy to systems of electric cars and portable equipment such as telephones, photographic equipment and laptops. The hydrogen-air secondary cell is characterized in that it contains an electrode made of a material capable of high hydrogen sorption capacity through the electrochemical decomposition of water, connected to the negative pole, disposed between conventional air diffusion electrodes, with at least one auxiliary electrode with lowered oxygen release overpotential being positioned between the air electrodes and the hydrogen sorption electrode, and connected electrically to an auxiliary pole of the cell and charging the cell, the electrodes being kept apart by a separator.

Abstract: The carbon fibers present a mean lattice surface spacing (d002) not less than 0.36 nm, preferably 0.38 nm, at a crystallite size such that the mean height (Lc) lies in the range 0.7 nm to 0.3 nm and the mean width (La) lies in the range 2 nm to 6 nm, and it presents total porosity lying in the range 10% to 30%. The electrode is preferably a rayon-precursor carbon cloth and it constitutes the anode (10) of a secondary cell having a cathode (20) which includes lithium enabling lithium ions to be inserted and de-inserted, and an electrolyte (30).