Method for producing an electrode containing electrolyte-absorbed polymer particles

A method for producing an electrode for use in a galvanic cell, comprising the steps of:

• (a) selecting dehydrated liquid absorbing cross-linked polymer particles which are sized to flow through a 20 Tyler mesh screen and be retained on a 200 Tyler mesh screen, said cross-linked polymer particles selected from the group consisting of carboxyvinyl polymers and cross-linked polyacrylamide polymers, wherein the liquid absorbing cross-linked polymer particles are made by mixing cross-linked polymer particles with water and then dehydrating the cross-linked polymer particles to produce liquid absorbing cross-linked polymer particles;
• and
• (b) mixing at least one electrochemically active material, an electrolyte solution, and the selected liquid absorbing cross-linked polymer particles of step (a), wherein, after absorbing the electrolyte, at least 50% of the liquid absorbing cross-linked polymer particles are at least 1000 microns in length, width or height and are substantially distributed throughout the electrode.