Thus the "self recharge" is an effect of the kinetics of the battery discharge (a memory of what happened perviously in the battery and how fast it happened). read more
Reaction products build up around the two poles of the battery and slow down the reaction. By letting the battery rest, you give the reaction products a chance to dissipate. The higher the drain on the battery, the faster the products build up, so batteries under high drain appear to recover more. read more
Okay, I put some alkaline batteries in a generic flashlight and leave the light on until the alkalines are almost dead. Then I turn off the flashlight and wait 24 hours. read more