NOVELTY - An oxygen electrode comprises an active material containing an active redox couple material modified to match the gas phase kinetics with the electrochemical kinetics of the active redox couple material.    USE - For fuel cell (claimed), such as Ovonic instant startup alkaline fuel cells, used for powering vehicles.    ADVANTAGE - The oxygen electrode operates through the mechanism of redox couples which uniquely provide multiple degrees of freedom in selecting the operating voltages available for such fuel cells. The oxygen storage capacity of the active material provides fuel cells with the ability to accept recaptured energy by running in reverse as an electrolyzer. The oxygen storage capacity also provides instant startup capability. The redox couple provides the fuel cell with the capability to provide short surge bursts of energy during demand surges and also allows for recapture of regenerative energy. Since hydrogen and oxygen can be adsorbed and stored in the respective electrode materials of the fuel cell, energy recapture can be achieved. Therefore, activities such as regenerative braking, can be performed without the need for a battery external to the fuel cell because any reactants produced by running the fuel cell in reverse will be stored in the electrodes of the fuel cell. Therefore, fuel cells employing the instant active electrode materials are the equivalent of a fuel cell combined with a battery. Oxygen is continuously introduced at the gas side of the anode through a catalytic region and chemically stored as a material in the form of charged state of oxide couple which participates in the cell reaction. Thus, an electrochemical cell is continuously operated through the supply with the gas side, storage within, and release from the electrolyte side of, the oxidant so that operation as a fuel cell is enabled.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is also included for fuel cell having an oxygen electrode comprising an active material having oxygen storage capacity. The active redox couple material of the electrode is modified to inhibit the dissolution of the active redox couple material in the fuel cell.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic depiction of a hydrogen electrode.    hydrogen electrode (20)    active material layer (21)    current collector (22)    PTFE layer (23)    electrolyte contacting side (24)    hydrogen contacting side (25)