Formation of electrodes for alkaline batteries

A process is described for the fabrication of aqueous alkaline batteries in which the electrodes are formed (cycled to remove undesirable ions and surface material from the electrode) under unusual conditions. These unusual conditions involve a charge/discharge cycle at an unusually high current rate in highly concentrated basic aqueous electrolyte at a temperature from 40 DEG C to the boiling point of the electrolyte. Formation carried out in this way is far more rapid than by traditional methods and accomplishes the same purposes. Further, this procedure for forming the electrodes can be carried out on a continuous basis which is economically desirable in the commercial manufacture of alkaline batteries.