TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred battery: The ion-conductive member comprises a polymer and supporting electrolyte, is layered or columnar, includes an electrolyte solvent and the polymer is crosslinked, in a swollen gel state, granular, in the form of a film or sheet and is oriented in one direction. The solvent is organic or water, the ion-conductive member is a hybrid of polymer and porous oxide, can conduct Li ions and the electrolyte is a Li salt; the battery uses a reducing reaction for Li ions and an oxidizing reaction for Li and the electrodes accept and discharge Li ions as appropriate. The negative electrode is of Li or Li alloy or a compound which intercalates Li and the positive electrode (de)intercalates Li ions. The negative electrode is selected from Li, graphite, Li alloy, tin oxide alone or with Li, a transition metal oxide, carbide, sulfide or nitride alone or with Li, and the positive electrode comprises similar oxides nitrides carbides or sulfides, with or without Li. Hydrogen and hydroxide ions can be conducted through the member and the electrolyte is an alkaline hydroxide or sulfuric acid, the negative electrode is a hydrogen absorbing/ H+ discharging alloy comprising zinc or lead and the positive electrode comprises a catalyst which activates absorbed oxygen and is nickel hydroxide or lead oxide. The ion-conductive member is formed by light irradiation or magnetic or electric fields, a monomer and crosslinking agent are oriented and polymerized to form the matrix. A spacer is placed between the electrodes before forming the ion-conductive member and is made of nonwoven fabric or beads of resin, glass or ceramic.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred polymer: The polymer contains C-O, C-N or C-S bonds and at least one of ester, ether, carbonyl, amide or nitrile groups. The polymer is of a diacetylene or exhibits liquid crystallinity in the main chain, side chain or bridge of the polymer. The liquid crystal molecule is geometrically asymmetric, cylindrical or flat, or contains a group of large dipole moment or polarization.