TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The positive electrode precharge is provided to offset any self-charge to the negative electrode after assembly. The negative electrode has a precharge. The battery further includes an overcharge reservoir, overdischarge reservoir and an excess negative capacity. The excess negative capacity is balanced between the overcharge reservoir and the overdischarge reservoir. The positive electrode further includes additive(s) for enhancing conductivity. The oxidation of the additive(s) provides a one time self-charge to the negative electrode. The positive precharge is provided to balance the one time self-charge. The positive electrode is non-sintered and the electrochemically active positive material includes preoxidized particles. The positive electrode further includes non-oxidized positive active material particles immediately after battery assembly. Each preoxidized particle is 3-75% non-oxidized, or partially non-oxidized. The preoxidized particle has a dispersion of oxidized and non-oxidized positive active material throughout each particle. The partially oxidized active nickel particles are 10-70% oxidized. The additive includes a non-reversible oxidant with a valence higher than 3 other than nickel or cobalt compounds. The preoxidized positive active material comprises partially oxidized particles.Preferred Property: The preoxidized particle has a surface that is greater than 1% non-oxidized. The preoxidized particle has a bulk that is 3-35% oxidized. The particles have an average particle size of 5-100 microns and each particle is 1-99% oxidized. The particle has a surface that is at most 70% oxidized, and a surface that is 30-70% non-oxidized. Each particle has a bulk or a center portion that is 3-75% oxidized. The particles are 3-70%, preferably 10-55% oxidized.Preferred Method: The battery is subjected to electrical or heat formation to balance charge distribution between the negative electrode and the positive electrode. An electrochemically irreversible additive is provided to the positive electrode which contributes a one time charge to the negative electrode.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The preoxidized particle includes nickel oxyhydroxide and nickel hydroxide material. The negative electrode includes an electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy which is AB2, modified AB2, titanium-zirconium-vanadium-nickel-chromium (TiZrVNiCr) or modified TiZrNiCr materials. The negative electrode includes an electrochemical hydrogen storage alloy which is AB5, modified AB5 or other ABx materials. The additive includes cobalt and/or cobalt oxide. The metal ion solution is a metal sulfate solution. The ammonium solution is ammonium hydroxide and the metal hydroxide is sodium hydroxide. The metal ion solution includes feed stream(s) formulated to produce active nickel material with a base metal composition comprising nickel-cobalt, nickel-cobalt-zinc, nickel-cobalt-zinc-magnesium, nickel-cobalt-zinc-magnesium-calcium or nickel-cobalt-zinc-magnesium-calcium-copper. The oxidant comprises chlorates, hypochlorates, peroxides, peroxides, permanganates or nitrates, preferably sodium hypochlorate.Preferred Method: The nickel hydroxide particles are successively grown in the presence of an oxidizing agent to partially oxidize each particle. An active material seed is provided with a first degree of oxidation and growing an active material about the seed. The active material and the seed have a second degree of oxidation. The particles are grown in an oxidizing solution to provide oxidized and non-oxidized active material. The particles are grown by the formation and breakdown of a metal complex to form a precipitate. Forming nickel hydroxide particles includes combining a metal ion solution, ammonium solution, a metal hydroxide and oxidant in a reactor.