Nickel-zinc rechargeable pencil battery

A rechargeable battery comprising:

• a) a hollow cylindrical positive electrode comprising (i) nickel hydroxide and/or nickel oxyhydroxide, and (ii) cobalt metal and/or a cobalt compound;
• b) a gelled negative electrode comprising between 0% and about 30% by weight of zinc, between about 65% and 100% by weight of zinc oxide, a gelling agent, an alkaline electrolyte, and optionally at least one of carbon, cellulose, titanium nitride and alumina;
• c) a substantially tubular separator interposed between the hollow cylindrical positive electrode and the gelled negative electrode;
• and
• d) a negative electrode current collector in the gelled negative electrode;
• wherein the rechargeable battery is capable of between about 25 and 1000 cycles from a fully charge state to a fully discharged state at a discharge rates of about 0.5 C or greater.

A method of making a rechargeable battery assembly, the method comprising:

• a) introducing a hollow cylindrical positive electrode comprising nickel hydroxide into a can;
• b) introducing a separator tube, into the hollow of the hollow cylindrical positive electrode;
• c) introducing a gelled negative electrode having at least one of zinc and a zinc compound into the separator tube;
• and
• d) inserting a negative electrode current collector inserted into the gelled negative electrode.