NOVELTY - An electrolyte composition for alkali metal polymer batteries comprises (a) a solid, ionically conductive polymer; (b) organically modified oxide particles comprising organic groups covalently bonded to the oxide particles; and (c) an alkali metal salt. The composition is free of lithiated zeolite.    USE - The electrolyte composition is used for alkali metal polymer batteries and electrochemical cells (claimed) and batteries made with such electrolytes.    ADVANTAGE - The electrolyte compositions have adhesive properties and are capable of being adhered to electrodes. Electrochemical cells and batteries constructed from the electrolytes exhibit uniform plating of electrode materials, impedance levels similar to the impedance of the solid, ionically conductive polymer, and the ability to cycle repeatedly at constant cell voltage levels. The electrolyte compositions also exhibit unexpectedly stable levels of impedance (i.e., the internal impedance of the cell does not increase significantly) during cell cycling and are capable for greater than 50 cycles in a lithium-lithium cell, at four hours/cycle, with a current density 0.5 mA/cm2, at a depth of discharge of 1 mAh/cm2, and at 80 degreesC. It possesses sufficient ionic conductivity at room temperature such that batteries can be discharged at low current densities at these temperatures. The organically modified particles provide improved structural integrity to the electrolyte compositions, which allows batteries and cells to be constructed from thin electrolyte films. The strengthened electrolyte is relatively less penetrable by dendrites compared to solid polymer electrolytes that do not include organically modified oxide particles, thus electrochemical cells with long cycle life can be achieved. The stronger electrolyte films also exhibits improved web handling at higher speeds compared to electrolyte films constructed solely of the solid, ionically conductive polymer. The electrolyte compositions are less combustible than solid polymer electrolytes due to the incorporation of non-combustible inorganic fillers. The material costs associated with primary and secondary batteries are lowered due to decreased use of relatively more expensive conductive polymer that has been reinforced with the less expensive organically modified oxide particles.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a cell comprising:    (i) a first electrode;    (ii) a second electrode; and    (iii) the above electrolyte composition adhered to a major surface of the first electrode.