TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Polymer: One of the polymers has a concentration of 1-99%. The polymer also comprises at least one of an acrylate, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, oxymethylene linked polyethylene oxide, polyethylene oxide-polypropylene oxide-polyethylene oxide crosslinked with trifunctional urethane, poly(bis(methoxy-ethoxy-ethoxide))-phosphazene, polyacrylonitrile, polymethylmethacrylate, polymethylacrylonitrile, triol type polyethylene oxide crosslinked with difunctional urethane, poly(oligo)oxyethylene)methacrylate-co-alkali metal methacrylate, polysiloxanes (and their copolymers).Preferred Methods: In method (I), the mixing step comprises coextruding the polymers, whilst adjusting operating conditions such as temperature, throughput and die thickness to control the quality of the melt-cast film with a die thickness of 100-200 micron prior to biaxial orientation, and to control the composition of the copolymer film. Biaxial orientation includes stretching the film to a final thickness of 0.5-25 micron.In method (III), the dissolving step comprises adding the polymers to a hydrocarbon to form the solution. Curing involves using electron beam or ultraviolet radiation, and traps the liquid organic solvent electrolyte into the pores formed as in method (IV). The curable liquid polymer has a hetero atom with a lone pair of electrons for metal ions of the lithium salt to latch onto and move, during conduction, from one lone pair site to another.In method (IV), the fumed silica has an amorphous-crystalline structure and it and the alumina have a particle size of less than 0.05 micron, and a high specific surface area more than 100 m2/g, for even distribution through the polymer blend. Dispersion is performed during coextrusion. The soaking step uses a solvent mixture of at least one of ethylene carbonate-diethyl carbonate, ethylene carbonate-dimethyl carbonate, polycarbonate ethylene carbonate-dimethyl carbonate. The solvent containing a lithium salt for ionic conduction, which is selected from LiPF6, LiClO4, LiBF4, LiAsF6, LiAlCl4, lithium trifluoromethane sulfonate (LiCF3SO3), lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl) imide (lithium imide) (LiN(CF3SO2)2) and lithium methide (LiC(SO2CF3)3).Preferred Materials: The cathode active material is selected from lithium doped conducting polymers such as polypyrrole, polyaniline and polyacetylene. The anode active material ion-insertion polymers.Preferred Battery: The polymer substrate is constructed and adapted for easy coating and handling, and avoiding kinking and deformation during manufacture.Preferred Substrate: Both sides of the polymer layer have a nonmetallized margin that is about 1-3 mm wide, both margins being present at the same edge.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Materials: The cathode active material is selected from LiMn2O4, LixMnO2, LixCoO2, LixV2O5, LiV3O8, LixV2S5, LixNbSe3, LixNiO2, LixNiyCO2O2, LixNiyMn2O2, and LixCoyMn2O2. The anode active material is selected from tin oxide, ion-insertion inorganic electrodes and carbon insertion electrodes.In electrode (VI), the ultrathin metal substrate is a metal selected from Cu, Al, Ni, Zn, stainless steel and their alloys, or other conductive alloys, preferably it is an Al cathode substrate or a Cu anode substrate, of thickness less than 0.01 micron.Preferred Method: In method (VIII), the anode and cathode active materials are milled to reduce their particle size, before being injected, directly onto the substrate. The materials are then drawn into films using wire wound rods or Mayer rods of different wire diameters to control wet slurry thickness. Alternatively, the materials are sprayed individually in their own aerosol mix, while the substrate is moved past the spray points at high speed. The sprayed material cured either by drying or radiation.