Abstract: The performance characteristics of alkaline manganese dioxide cells are improved by applying a thin, polymeric coating to the inner surface of an unplated steel positive current collector, and treating the current collector with an aqueous solution of sodium silicate before or after the coating is applied to the inner surface. Silicic acid may also be added to the coating before its application to the inner surface of the current collector. In either embodiment of the invention, sodium silicate or silicic acid may also be added to the cathode mixture. The polymeric coating comprises, in combination, a first film forming binder component and a second component comprising an electrically conductive component such as carbon or a filler. The combination of the coating and the sodium silicate or silicic acid treatment of the current collector reduces the internal resistance of the cell, and may even be used on unplated steel.