TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Gel: The polymer or copolymer matrix includes at least one monomer having a side chain carrying an alkali metal (preferably a monomer of formula (I) and at least one monomer having a polar moiety (preferably a monomer of formula (II).R1 = H or CH3;R2 = -NH-C(CH3)2-CH2-SO3M;M = alkali metal, preferably lithium, sodium or potassium; andR3, R4 = H, CH3, CH2CH3, CH(CH3)2, (CH2)3CH3 or C6H5.The polymer matrix includes a crosslinking agent, preferably of formula (III) or (IV):n = 1 or more; andR1 = as above.Preferably the at least one monomer having a polar moiety is the crosslinking agent of formula (III) or (IV). At least one of the non-aqueous solvents has a similar chemical structure to at least one of the monomers forming the polymer or copolymer matrix and at least one of the non-aqueous solvents has a high dielectric constant. At least one of the non-aqueous solvents is selected from amides, mono- and/or di-alkyl substituted amides and/or organic solvents containing one or more carbonyl and/or sulfonyl functionalities.Preferred Preparation: The preparation further includes purging the dissolved mixture with an inert gas and further includes adding a crosslinking agent, preferably to at least one of the monomers having a polar moiety. The water content is reduced to less than 100 ppm. The at least one monomer with a side chain carrying an alkali metal is formed by neutralizing a charged monomer with at least one alkali metal sulfonate or carbonate. Preferably the charged monomer includes a sulfonic acid group or carboxylic acid group. The preparation further comprises adding at least one non-conductive web or one or more inorganic additives prior to inducing polymerization.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Electrolyte: The dimensional stability means comprises a non-conductive web structure or one or more inorganic additives (preferably silica (SiO2), alumina (Al2O3), lithium aluminum oxide (LiAlO2), titanium dioxide (TiO2), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) or zeolites). EXAMPLE - Acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propane sulfonic acid (0.6632 g) was dissolved in formamide and neutralized with lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) (0.1182 g). After reaction completion, acrylamide (1.9760 g) and methylenebisacrylamide (0.1542 g) were added and the solution transferred to a 20 ml flask and filled with formamide. This solution was purged with oxygen-free argon and kept over 4A molecular sieves for two days with occasional shaking. 1M solution of potassium persulfate in formamide (0.1 ml) was added and the solution filtered through a 0.45 micron filter and filled into a PTFE mold. The polymerization reaction was conducted at 70 degreesC, to give a gel which had an ionic conductivity (room temperature) of 1.12 x 10 to the power -3 Scm-1.