TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Electrode: The electrode further comprises a current collector. The current collector is embedded within the electrode. At least one face of the electrode has enhanced geometric surface area by adding contours. At least some of the surface area is contoured during volumetric compression. The electrode is sintered. The sintering temperature is 100-900 (preferably 400-700) degrees C. The electrode is a gas or liquid diffusion electrode. The first and second electrodes are configured to permit the flow of electricity. Preferred Components: The electrolyzer further comprises a separator membrane which is configured to inhibit mixing of hydrogen and oxygen products. The electrolyte is aqueous, conducts anions or cations, and is circulated. In the electrolyzer (e1), first and second electrodes are less than five (preferably less than one) centimeters or less than one millimeter apart; and the first and second catalyst members are laminated on opposite sides of the separating membrane. The electrolyte is an ion-exchange membrane conducting cations or anions. The first and second catalyst members are laminated on opposite sides of the ion-exchange membrane. The anode fuel is an oxygen-containing hydrocarbon (preferably alcohol selected from methanol or ethanol); or hydrogen. The cathode fuel is oxygen; or is air-breathing.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: At least a portion of the reactive metal particles have a diameter of less than 100 (preferably less than 50, especially less than 10) nanometers. At least a portion of the reactive metal particles comprises particles having an oxide shell.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Components: At least a portion of the metal substrate particles or reactive metal particles is selected from metals from groups 3-16 and/or lanthanides, or their alloys. EXAMPLE - Nickel powder (15 nm, 0.15 g) and micron-nickel powder (0.5 mu , 1.35 g) were blended in a vial. The resulting mixture was poured into a 3/4'' die containing a 3/4'' circle of expanded nickel metal. The die was then volumetrically compressed to 1500 psi and held at this pressure for 30 seconds. The resulting electrode was removed from the die and placed in a furnace at 500 degrees C for 1 hour. The addition of metal nanoparticles to the electrode in terms of efficiency showed efficiencies over 70% at low current density.