Thomas Edison originally conceived of Nickel-Zinc batteries for use in high-power, high-energy applications. Nickel-Zinc batteries were ideal for this purpose due to their inherently superior electrochemical properties and the low-cost, environmentally friendly nature of nickel and zinc metal. However, a severe flaw limited its uses, namely dendrite formation during recharging. Dendrites reduce the overall performance of the battery and could even lead to shorts, rendering the entire cell useless.