TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The hollow cylindrical positive electrode comprises many stacked annular pellets (10). The hollow cylindrical positive electrode comprises nickel hydroxide and cobalt metal and/or a cobalt compound. The hollow cylindrical positive electrode comprises a first conductive agent comprising at least one of nickel, carbon, conductive polymers or conductive ceramics. The first conductive agent is in the form of a powder, foam and/or fiber. The hollow cylindrical positive electrode comprises an irrigative agent comprising at least one of alumina, cellulose or hydrophilic material. The gelled negative electrode comprises a solid mixture combined with a gelling agent, an alkali electrolyte or a second conductive agent. The solid mixture comprises zinc or zinc oxide. The solid mixture also comprises at least one of alumina, cellulose or newsprint. The second conductive agent comprises up to 30 vol.% of the gelled negative electrode. The negative electrode current collector comprises at least one of brass, copper or steel and optionally comprises a hydrogen evolution inhibitor. The hydrogen evolution inhibitor comprises at least one of tin, lead, bismuth, silver, indium or carbon. The hollow cylindrical positive electrode further comprises nickel and/or carbon. The hollow cylindrical electrode mixture comprises a stack of annular pellets.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INSTRUMENTATION AND TESTING - Preferred Components: The separator comprises a bilayer laminate comprising a barrier layer and a wicking layer. The barrier layer comprises a microporous membrane of 25-75 mu m thick. The wicking layer is 25-200 mu m thick. The negative electrode current collector comprises a surface area enhancing geometrical element. The rechargeable battery (B1) further comprises: a negative electrode terminal plate electrically connected to the negative electrode current collector; an identification tag that uniquely identifies the rechargeable battery and allows its number of charge or discharge cycles to be monitored; and a negative collector disc in electrical communication with the gelled negative electrode and having a flat surface and serving as a negative terminal for the rechargeable battery. The ratio of the length of the rechargeable battery to the diameter of the rechargeable battery is 1.5:1-20:1. The battery can has a form factor conforming to the size and shape of a standard battery size comprising AAA, AA, C, D or sub-C. The second end of the can contains a vent hole. The positive cap comprises a vent hole. The relative ratio of the diameter of the hollow cylindrical positive electrode to the diameter of the rechargeable battery is 0.4-0.95. The annulus of the hollow cylindrical positive electrode is 1.5-2.5 mm thick. The rechargeable battery (B2) further comprises a battery can configured to a commercially available size comprising AAA, AA, C, D or sub-C. In the rechargeable battery (B2) the annulus of the hollow cylindrical positive electrode is 1-3 mm thick. The gelled negative electrode is formed in situ in the separator. The topmost portion of the separator tube is above the topmost portion of the hollow cylindrical positive electrode, which in turn is above the topmost portion of the gelled negative electrode. The negative electrode current collector is attached to a closure (60) used to seal the can and complete the rechargeable battery assembly.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The hollow cylindrical positive electrode comprises a binder comprising at least one of PTFE, cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.