A battery is provided containing increased binding energy hydrogen
compounds as oxidants of the battery cathode half reaction. The oxidant
compounds are provided comprising at least one neutral, positive, or
negative hydrogen species having a binding energy greater than its
corresponding ordinary hydrogen species, or greater than any hydrogen
species for which the corresponding ordinary hydrogen species is unstable
or is not observed. The oxidant compounds comprise at least one increased
binding energy hydrogen species and at least one other atom, molecule, or
ion other than an increased binding energy hydrogen species. The oxidant
compound may comprise a cation M.sup.n+ (where n is an integer) bound to
an increased binding energy hydride ion such that the binding energy of
the cation or atom M.sup.(n-1)+ is less than the binding energy of the
hydride ion
H - ( 1 p ) ##EQU00001##
may serve as the oxidant. Alternatively, an increased binding energy
hydride ion may be selected for a given cation such that the hydride ion
is not oxidized by the cation. Thus, the oxidant
M n + H - ( 1 p ) n ##EQU00002##
comprises a cation M.sup.n+, where n is an integer and the increased
binding energy hydride ion
H - ( 1 p ) , ##EQU00003##
where p is an integer greater than 1, that is selected such that its
binding energy is greater than that of M.sup.(n-1)+. The increased
binding energy hydrogen ion has a further application as the negative ion
of the electrolyte of a high voltage electrolytic cell.