NOVELTY - An electrochemical cell comprises: a fuel electrode having a metal fuel; a positive electrode; an ionically conductive medium; and a dopant. The electrodes are operable in a discharge mode where the metal fuel is oxidized at the fuel electrode and the dopant increases the conductivity of metal fuel oxidation product.    USE - As an electrochemical cell i.e. a secondary battery (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The metal oxide layer can act as a protective film to minimize unfavorable corrosion during idle states but by the same token, it can act as a barrier to desired corrosion (i.e. during the discharge of a battery or acting as sacrificial anode). Depending on the particular features of the anode, its immediate environment and in some embodiments the applied bias, the desired oxidation rates may be regulated.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An electrochemical cell comprises: a fuel electrode having a metal fuel; a positive electrode; an ionically conductive medium; and a dopant. The electrodes are operable in a discharge mode where the metal fuel is oxidized at the fuel electrode and the dopant increases the conductivity of metal fuel oxidation product. The oxidation product comprises an oxide of the metal fuel; and is doped degenerately. The dopant is n-type or p-type dopant; and comprises at least one element having a more negative standard redox potential in the electrochemical series than the metal fuel. The dopant is at a concentration below 10 wt.% of the metal fuel. The doped oxidation product has a higher conductivity than the same product in the absence of a dopant. The positive electrode is an air electrode that absorbs gaseous oxygen, where during discharge mode, oxygen is reduced at the air electrode. The cell is exposed to ambient air. The air electrode is porous. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for producing an electrode comprising a metal fuel and a doped oxidation product, involving: deposition of a thin film comprising the dopant on the metal surface, and electrochemical oxidation of the metal fuel; or dissolving a salt of the dopant into a solvent forming a dopant solution, and electrochemical oxidation of the metal fuel in the presence of the dopant solution; or formation of an alloy of the dopant and metal, and electrochemical oxidation of the metal fuel.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows metal fuel electrode (M0) with surface film comprising dopant (D), where upon oxidation electrons flow from metal fuel electrode acting as anode to produced doped oxidation product (MDxP1-x) in presence of a product of cathodic reaction.