TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Lyophobic Agent: The lyophobic agent comprises polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyacrylonitrile, polyimide, tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymer and/or styrene-butadiene copolymer, and has a dibutyl phthalate absorption of not greater than 150 ml/100 g. The agent is present in amount 2-30 weight parts per 100 parts of the gas absorbent.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Absorbent: The gas absorbent is capable of absorbing methane, ethane, ethylene, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The gas absorbing element is a molded article or a sintered article of a powder mixture. The difference between surface free energy of the gas absorbing element and that of the electrolyte is 5-50 mN/m at 20 degrees C. The gas absorbing element comprises a coating film formed on the surface of the battery and a porous layer covering the coated film. The porous layer comprises lyophobic agent and prevents the gas absorbent from being wetted excessively by the electrolyte.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Battery: The electrode plate assembly is wound such that the gas absorbing element serves as the core of the assembly. The gas absorbing element is fixed to a sealing plate which seals the opening of a casing (106) for accommodating the assembly. The element is subjected to degasification for 2 hours at 400 degrees C, so that gas is absorbed to at least 10 times volume of that of air. The amount of gas absorbent in the battery is not less than 0.2 g/1000 mAh of cell capacity. EXAMPLE - Active carbon with dibutyl phthalate (DBP) absorption of 250 ml/100 g was used as a gas absorbent. Polytetrafluoroethylene with mean particle diameter of 1 mum and DBP absorption of 20 ml/100 g was used as lyophobic agent. The gas absorbent (in weight parts) (100) was mixed with the lyophobic agent (25) to form a powdery mixture of DBP absorption 30 ml/100 g. The mixture was molded to form a gas absorbing element. A battery assembly comprising negative electrode, positive electrode, separator layer, gas absorbing element and a non-aqueous electrolyte was formed. The battery had a capacity of 1150 mAh and cycle life of 330 times.