TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Condition: The hydrogen recombination catalyst is dispersed in a binder, encapsulated by a hydrogen and water permeable membrane, or is dispersed in a binder and encapsulated in the hydrogen and water permeable membrane. It is disposed in an anode side of the metal-air battery.Preferred Component: The hydrogen oxidizing material comprises manganese oxide, cupric oxide, silver oxide, barium oxide, AgO, potassium permanganate or silver permanganate (preferably cupric oxide). The first and the second component of the activating material comprises group VIII metals (palladium, platinum, ruthenium) or their salts. The first component of the activating material comprises platinum metals or their salts (preferably platinum chloride). The second component of the activating material comprises ruthenium metals or their salts (preferably ruthenium chloride).Preferred Composition: The hydrogen recombination catalyst comprises (wt.%): cupric oxide (75-85, preferably 80-85); and activating material (0.05-6). The activating material further comprises (wt.%): first component (0.05-0.2) and second component (0.2-1.8).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Material: The binder is silicone. EXAMPLE - A hydrogen recombination catalyst was prepared. A mixture comprising cupric oxide (98.9 wt.%); platinum chloride (0.1 wt.%); and distilled water was dried at 71degreesC and ground. The powder (2.5 g) was blended with silicone rubber (0.4 g) and mineral spirits (30 drops) and a part was deposited on a 2.7 mil polyethylene film and cured at 55degreesC for 3.5 hours. A section of the sheet was folded over the material and heat sealed to give a polyethylene envelope. The rate of hydrogen absorption of the recombination catalyst was determined by sealing the polyethylene envelope into a foil bag. The bag was evacuated and charged with a known amount of hydrogen gas at room temperature. The amount of hydrogen gas absorbed by the catalyst was monitored by measuring the buoyancy of the foil bag. The hydrogen recombination catalysts consumed hydrogen at a rate of at least 0.5 scc/g of hydrogen recombination catalyst/day for at least 130 days.