TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Composition: The separator has an ionic conductivity at least 0.10 S/cm. The hydroxide has a concentration of 0.1 - 55 (preferably 37.5) wt.%.Preferred Electrode: An electrochemical cell comprises first electrode (preferably hydrogen or aluminum, zinc anode), second electrode (preferably air cathode) and a proton conductive (1) is disposed between them.Preferred Electrochromic Device: The electrochromic device comprises first and second electrode substrates comprised of platinum, conductive glass (preferably indium-tin oxide glass) or gold. Each membrane has an electrochromic material contained within the solution phase. The electrochromic device further comprises an electrolyte active species disposed between first and second (1).Preferred Electrochemical Cell: The charging electrode is positioned between separator and cathode. The electrochemical cell further comprises a porous spacer positioned between charging electrode and cathode. The anode is a metal selected from zinc, cadmium, zinc oxide, lithium, lead, magnesium, iron and aluminum (preferably zinc). The charging electrode is platinum, nickel, nickel oxide, perovskite and its derivatives, carbon and palladium. The ionic species comes from an aqueous alkaline solution of potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and/or lithium hydroxide or from a neutral aqueous solution comprising ammonium chloride and potassium sulfate, or ammonium chloride, potassium sulfate and sodium chloride. The separator is formed directly onto anode, charging electrode or cathode. The support is provided by anode, charging electrode or cathode. The electrochemical cell further comprises an aqueous liquid electrolyte in contact with the separator, anode, cathode and charging electrode. The single bifunctional electrode is nickel oxide, manganese dioxide, silver oxide, cobalt oxide or lead oxide. (1) is formed on a matrix of a woven or non-woven fabric, on a surface of anode or cathode.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The ionic species comes from an aqueous acidic solution of perchloric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid and/or phosphoric acid. The monomers are methylenebisacrylamide, acrylamide, (meth)acrylic acid, 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone, N-isopropylacrylamide, fumaramide, fumaric acid, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, 3,3-dimethylacrylic acid and/or sodium salt of vinylsulfonic acid. (1) comprises a polymerization product of a polymerization initiator and (a) methylenebisacrylamide, acrylamide, methacrylic acid and poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate), (b) methylenebisacrylamide, acrylamide, methacrylic acid, and polysulfone (anionic), (c) methylenebisacrylamide, poly(sodium 4-styrene sulfonate), acrylic acid, 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone and a reducing agent or (d) methylenebisacrylamide, acrylic acid and a reducing agent. The chemical polymerization initiator is ammonium persulfate, alkali metal persulfate or peroxides is added to at least one monomer and reinforcing element before polymerization.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The reinforcing element is poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate), carboxymethyl cellulose, polysulfone (anionic), sodium salt of poly(styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) and corn starch. The support is a woven or non- woven fabric selected from polyamides, polyolefins, polyvinyl alcohol and cellulose.Preferred Process: The polymerization is carried out using radical generating radiation selected from x-ray, gamma-ray and ultraviolet radiation at a temperature from room temperature - 130degreesC. First protective (1) is disposed on anode and a second protective (1) is disposed between first membrane and the cathode. An aqueous electrolyte is disposed between first and second membrane. EXAMPLE - A stronger polymer film was prepared by dissolving methylenebisacrylamide (0.75 g), acrylamide (0.56 g), methacrylic acid (4.70 g) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) in water (10 ml) and then 40% KOH (20 ml) was added to it. Ammonium persulfate (0.05 g) was then added to the solution. Piece of fabric was soaked in monomer solution, sandwiched between a piece of glass and polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) transparent film and heated on 75degreesC hotplate and irradiated under strong UV light for 5 minutes. A strong polymer film was obtained which was highly conductive of hydroxide ions. The membrane film was sandwiched between an air cathode and a hydrogen anode separating the air and hydrogen and allowing diffusion of hydroxide ions.