Corrosion is reduced in aqueous electrochemical cells having zinc anodes by utilizing mercury amalgamated discrete single crystal zinc particles to which small amounts of one or more of indium, thallium, gallium, bismuth, cadmium, tin and lead have been added or prealloyed with the zinc, prior to formation of the single crystal particles. A synergistically lowered rate of corrosion and cell gassing is obtained even with reduction of mercury content.

A transistor drive circuit of a power converter is developed for operating in a wide voltage range. It includes an N-type high-side transistor, a P-type high-side transistor and an N-type low-side transistor. A voltage clamp device is connected to the gate of the N-type high-side transistor to limit the maximum output voltage. A detection circuit is coupled to detect the supply voltage of the transistor drive circuit to generate a disable signal in response to the voltage level of the supply vol...