Basic construction of a Ni-MH battery
Ni-MH batteries, like most other rechargeable batteries, consist of two metal stripes - the positive and negative electrode. Between these metal stripes an insulating foil, the separator, is placed. This sandwich of three layers is rolled-up to a coil and placed into a metal can, which acts as negative pole of the battery.

Before closing the can with a cap, a liquid, the electrolyte, is filled into the can. The cap contains a gas release vent, which allows to release hydrogen, when the battery is overcharged. The electrical behaviour of the battery depends on the composition of the electrodes, on the separator and on the used electrolyte.

The self discharge of Ni-MH batteries is caused by three main reasons:

• The chemical decomposition of the cathode
• The natural disaggregation of the anode.
• Impurities of the anode

Which changes have been made for the new eneloop?
The technological difference between the "old" and the "new" eneloop is, that the super-lattice-alloy of the "new" eneloop has been even more improved.

(1) Advanced materials:
Development of a highly-durable super-lattice alloy. 
The durability of Panasonic’s original super-lattice alloy, a negative-electrode material used in eneloop, has been enhanced by homogenizing the crystalline structure (a reduction of crystals with an irregular atomic order is irregular) as well as improving its composition (the ratio of constituent element) to reduce the deterioration of the super-lattice alloy by repeated charge and discharge

(2) Advanced manufacturing method:
Developed technology to protect the surface of the super-lattice alloy 
A new additive to the negative electrode material, super-lattice alloy, and a new additive coating technology was developed. By protecting the alloy surface, deterioration of the super-lattice alloy by repeated use can be reduced.

(3) Advanced structure: Use of strong/thin outer case
The new eneloop adopts the same strong/thin outer case used for Panasonic’s industry-leading level high-capacity AA-size rechargeable batteries, the Ni-MH2700 Series. This improves the internal cell space efficiency and optimizes the balance of battery components, leading to an increase in the number of times a battery can be recharged.