I think the biggest problem with this, based on the paper - is the fact that to anodize the steel, you have to heat it to 600+ degrees F for an hour, in an argo

I think the biggest problem with this, based on the paper - is the fact that to anodize the steel, you have to heat it to 600+ degrees F for an hour, in an argon or hydrogen atmosphere. How the heck you do that "at home" won't be easy. Maybe take an old oven (outdoors), stick it on the cleaning cycle, then put the steel electrodes in a sealed pyrex container (?) filled with argon/hydrogen? Maybe fill a steel pipe capped off with hydrogen, then heat that in the oven (where the inner surface becomes the electrode) - that might actually work ok (if a bit dangerous). Though how to seal it properly to prevent the hydrogen from leaking out might be a challenge. If the pipe idea could be worked out - then a series of brass rods or plates could be used suspended (and electrically insulated) from the steel pipe, to form the battery electrodes (similar to how a regular alkaline or carbon-zinc cell is constructed).