ACTIVATION OF RECHARGEABLE HYDROGEN OCCLUSION NEGATIVE ELECTRODE

Activated rechargeable hydrogen storage electrodes that are especially suitable for sealed, starved electrochemical cells and methods for making them are provided. The activated electrode includes a body of hydrogen storage active materials that is composed of an agglomeration of particles of active hydrogen storage material. The body contains a residual amount of hydrogen and may have a modified surface, the residual amount of hydrogen generally being equivalent to a potential of about -0.7 volts versus a Hg/HgO reference electrode when discharged at a rate of about 5mA/gram to 25mA/gram of active material. The methods provided for activating a rechargeable hydrogen storage negative electrode includes contacting the electrode with alkaline material for sufficient time at sufficient temperature to alter the surface oxides on the electrode present on the electrodes after fabrication to increase the charge acceptance and electrochemical hydrogen transfer rate and discharging at least a portion of the initial charge present in the electrode. The surface oxides may be treated by several methods, such as by contact with alkaline material or electrochemically.