or a perforated metal sheet the iron electrode can also be sintered the iron electrodes of the present invention are chemically preconditioned by treatment with water in the treatment with water the water acts as an oxidant that oxidizes the iron surface the use of water is quite beneficial in that it is an oxidizing material that is non toxic and yields reduction or thermal decomposition products that are also non toxic the water and solutions used to pretreat the iron electrodes may or may not contain a surfactant an example of a surfactant that may be used includes but is not limited to triton x 100 in one embodiment the water used comprises deionized water the treatment of the electrodes may be accomplished by coating dipping brushing spraying or otherwise applying water to the electrode the length of time the electrodes are treated with the oxidizing gas can vary but is generally until oxidation of the iron on the accessible surface of the electrode is observed the temperature at which the treatment is made is generally ambient but it can be at higher temperatures after the treatment the electrode can be dried if needed it can be air dried or in an oven for example this is to make sure all of the oxidizing agent is removed in one embodiment the treatment of the iron electrode is continued until the accessible surface of the iron material of the electrode is in the same oxidation state as the electrode would in the discharged state this is achieved by the oxidation treatment and can be determined using conventional methods available while not wishing to be bound by theory it is.