TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Components: The matrix material further comprises a water-soluble or water-swellable polymer, a chemical polymerization initiator, and a neutralizing agent. Water is replaced with a solution of a desired species, and the volume of the matrix material after species replacement deviates from the volume of the material before replacement by less than 50 (preferably 5)%. The species are anion conducting species, cation conducting species, neutral species, and/or electrochromic species. The matrix material (wt.%) comprises water (50-90) (preferably 62-75), ethylenically unsaturated acids and acid derivatives (5-50) (preferably 10-20), crosslinking agent (0.01-15) (preferably 1-3), water-soluble or water-swellable polymer (at most 30) (preferably 1-4), and chemical polymerization initiator (at most 3). The conductivity is at least 0.1-0.4 Siemens/cm. The water-soluble or water-swellable polymer is polysulfone (anionic), poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate), carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium salt of poly(styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid), corn starch, and/or any other water-soluble or water-swellable polymers. The polymerization is carried out at 130 (preferably 75-100) degrees C using ultraviolet light, gamma rays, x-rays, and/or electron beam in conjunction with heating.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The water soluble ethylenically unsaturated acids and acid derivatives have a formula (I).It may be methylenebisacrylamide, acrylamide, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, fumaramide, fumaric acid, N-isopropylacrylamide, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, 3,3-dimethylacrylic acid, 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone, sodium salt of vinylsulfonic acid, and/or maleic anhydride.The crosslinking agent, of formula (II), is methylenebisacrylamide, ethylenebisacrylamide, water-soluble N,N'-alkylidene-bis(ethylenically unsaturated amide), and/or 1,3,5-triacryloylhexahydro-1,3,5-triazine.R1, R2, and R3, R2,i, R3,i and R4,i = H, C, 2-6C (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes), aromatics, halo, carboxylic acid derivatives, sulfates or nitrates;R4 = NR5, NHR5, NH2, OH, H, halides, OR5, or carboxylic acid derivatives;R5 = H, C, 2-6C (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes), or aromatics; andR1 = N, NR5, NH, O, or carboxylic acid derivatives.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The desired species are alkaline solution, e.g. potassium hydroxide. The chemical polymerization initiator is ammonium persulfate, alkali metal persulfates, and/or peroxides. EXAMPLE - A mixture comprising (g) methylenebisacrylamide (3.5), acrylamide (5.3), 1,3,5-triacryloylhexahydro-1,3,5-triazine (2.6), methacrylic acid (42.9), poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (6.3), 1-phenyl-2-methyl-2-hydroxypropanone (1.8), and triethylanolamine (7) was dissolved in 224.6 ml water, and added with 50% potassium hydroxide (56.1). A piece of fabric was soaked in the monomer solution, and then sandwiched between a glass and polyethylene terephthalate transparent film. This was irradiated under strong ultraviolet light for 1 minute. The polymer formed was soaked in 45% potassium hydroxide for 24 hours.