Electrochemical cell

Claim 1

An electrochemical cell comprising a negative electrode, the electrochemically active material of which consists of an intermetallic compound forming a hydride with hydrogen, which compound has the CaCu 5 -structure and the compositional formula AB m C n , where m+n is between 4.8 and 5.4, where n is between 0.05 and 0.6, in which A consists of Mischmetall or of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Y, Ti, Hf, Zr, Ca, Th, La and the remaining rare earth metals, in which the total atomic quantities of the elements Y, Ti, Hf and Zr may not be more than 40% of A, in which B consists of two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Cu, Fe and Mn, the maximum atomic quantity per gram atom of A is being for Ni: 3.5, for Co: 3.5, for Cu: 3.5, for Fe: 2.0 and for Mn: 1.0, and in which C consists of of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Cr and Si in the following atomic quantities: Al: 0.05-0.6, Cr: 0.05-0.5 and Si: 0.05-0.5, characterized in that the electrochemically active material of the negative electrode also comprises an intermetallic compound forming a hydride with hydrogen, of the compositional formula DNihd pE q in an amount from 5 to 45% by weight calculated on the total amount of electrochemically active material, where p+q is between 4.8 and 5.4, where p is between 3.5 and 5.4, where q has a value from 0 to 1.5, where D is selected from the group formed by La and Mischmetall, and where E consists of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Co, Cr, Mn and Cu.