TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Components: The hydrogen electrode plate and the oxygen electrode plate have a tongue and groove configuration. The flow distributing structures extend from the hydrogen electrode plate to the oxygen electrode plate and provide support to the fuel cell. They have a polygonal cross section or a circular cross section. The electrolyte chamber provides mechanical support within the fuel cell and provides a pathway for the electrolyte solution to contact the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode. It further comprises a porous support structure disposed between a pair of membranes preventing excess electrolyte solution from contacting the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode and preventing oxygen-containing stream and hydrogen stream from penetrating into the electrolyte. The compression plates are adapted to absorb expansion of the hydrogen electrode. They provide mechanical support within the fuel cell. The hydrogen electrode comprises an anode active material having hydrogen storage capacity. It has a hydrogen contacting surface, an electrolyte solution contacting surface, and a bulk of the active anode material. The bulk of the anode active material is disposed between the hydrogen contacting surface and the electrolyte contacting surface. The hydrogen contacting surface is adapted to dissociate and absorb gaseous hydrogen. The bulk of the anode active material is adapted to store the absorbed hydrogen. The electrolyte solution contacting surface is adapted to react the stored hydrogen with an electrolyte solution. The hydrogen electrode comprises, in sequence, a porous polytetrafluoroethylene layer, an anode active material layer and a current collector grid. The anode active material layer may be dispersed throughout the current collector grid. The current collector grid comprises mesh, grid, matte, expanded metal, foil, foam, or plate. It comprises 40 wires per inch running horizontally and 20 wires per inch running vertically. The oxygen electrode has an oxygen contacting surface, an electrolyte solution contacting surface, and a bulk of the cathode active material. The bulk of the cathode active material is disposed between the oxygen contacting surface and the electrolyte solution contacting surface. The oxygen contacting surface is adapted to dissociate and absorb gaseous oxygen. The bulk of the cathode active material is adapted to store the absorbed oxygen. The electrolyte solution contacting surface is adapted to react the stored oxygen with an electrolyte solution. The oxygen electrode comprises a gas diffusion layer, a catalyst layer, a polytetrafluoroethylene layer, and a current collector grid. The catalyst layer is disposed between the gas diffusion layer and the current collector grid. Alternatively, the gas diffusion layer is disposed between the catalyst layer and the polytetrafluoroethylene layer. The polytetrafluoroethylene layer is in intimate contact with the oxygen containing stream. The catalyst layer may be dispersed throughout the current collector grid. The current collector grid is in intimate contact with the electrolyte stream.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The catalyst layer comprises 50 wt.% of a mixture of 40% polytetrafluoroethylene and 60% carbon black; 15 wt.% carbon black; 15 wt.% graphite; and 20 wt.% silver oxide. Preferred Materials: The electrolyte solution comprises potassium hydroxide solution. The oxygen-containing stream comprises air. The hydrogen stream comprises gaseous hydrogen.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Composition: The anode active material layer comprises 35 wt.% mischmetal nickel alloy, 46 wt.% raney nickel, 4 wt.% graphite, and 15 wt.% polytetrafluoroethylene powder. The current collector grid may comprise a conductive metal, preferably nickel. Preferred Materials: The silver oxide includes a lithium aluminum alloy or gallium.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The catalyst layer comprises 50 wt.% of a mixture of 40% polytetrafluoroethylene and 60% carbon black; 15 wt.% carbon black; 15 wt.% graphite; and 20 wt.% silver oxide. Preferred Materials: The electrolyte solution comprises potassium hydroxide solution. The oxygen-containing stream comprises air. The hydrogen stream comprises gaseous hydrogen.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Materials: The porous support structure comprises an expanded polymer sheet, preferably polyolefin. The compression plates comprise rubber. Preferred Composition: The gas diffusion layer comprises 40 wt.% polytetrafluoroethylene and 60 wt.% carbon black.