Abstract: The cycle life of rechargeable lithium batteries is significantly prolonged y applying to the battery as a charging mode a current interrupted at intervals of 1 milliseconds to 9 seconds in a frequency range of about 0.1 to about 10 Hertz.

Abstract: An alkaline nickel-zinc cell which has(1) a nickel-nickel hydroxide cathode;(2) a zinc-zinc oxide anode containing(a) a corrosion inhibitor such as PbO, SnO.sub.2, Tl.sub.2 O.sub.3, In(OHub.3, or mixtures thereof;(b) a slight corrosion accelerator such as CdO, Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3, Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3, or mixtures thereof; and(c) a zinc active material;(3) a mass-transport separator;(4) an alkaline electrolyte; and(5) means for charging the cell with an interrupted current having a frequency of from more than zero to 16 Hertz with a rest period of not less than 60 milliseconds.Another desirable feature is the use of a pressure-cutoff switch to terminate charging when the internal pressure of the cell reaches a selected value in the range of from 5 to 8 psig.

Abstract: A mass-transport separator for use in alkaline nickel-zinc cells which coises a barrier layer of a microporous membrane which contains a laminate of a material having a hydrogen overpotential in alkaline solution which is lower than that of zinc, the barrier layer being sandwiched between two protective layers of microporous polyolifin material.

Abstract: A zinc electrode containing a minor amount of (a) Tl.sub.2 O.sub.3, (b) P (c) CdO or mixtures of (d) Tl.sub.2 O.sub.3 and PbO, (e) Tl.sub.2 O.sub.3 and CdO, (f) Tl.sub.2 O.sub.3 and SnO.sub.2, (g) Tl.sub.2 O.sub.3 and In(OH).sub.3, (h) Tl.sub.2 O.sub.3 and Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3, (i) PbO and CdO, (j) PbO and SnO.sub.2, (k) PbO and In(OH).sub.3, and (l) PbO and Ga.sub.2 O.sub.3, to reduce "shape change" and hydrogen gassing of the zinc electrode which is used as the anode in an alkaline battery.