TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Precursor: The silicon-containing precursor is of formula (I).(R')nSi(OR)m (I)R' = 1-10C alkyl having compatibilizing functionality, preferably a 3-glycidyloxylpropyl group;R = optionally substituted 1-8C alkyl;n = 1 or 2;m = 2 or 3; andn+m = 4.The compatibilizing functionality of the silicon-containing precursor comprises epoxide derivative. The precursor is (3-glycidyloxypropyl)-trimethoxysilane. The aluminum-containing precursor is of formula Al(OR)3, preferably aluminum (sec-butoxide)3.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Polymer Electrolyte: The polymer electrolyte has a three-dimensional network structure comprising silicon atoms bound to 1, 2 or 3 bridging oxygens, in which at least 30-40% of the silicon atoms are bound to 3 bridging oxygens. The polymer electrolyte comprises 4- and 6-fold coordinate aluminum atoms, in which 35-65% of the aluminum atoms are 4-fold coordinate aluminum atoms. The polyalkylene oxide-containing polymer in the electrolyte has glass transition temperature of less than -20 degrees C. The polymer electrolyte has mechanical modulus of at least 10(7) Pa, and conductivity of at least 10(-5) S/cm at room temperature. The polymer electrolyte is provided in the form of nanostructure which is plate or rod.Preferred Polymer: The polymer is a block copolymer comprising polyethylene oxide blocks and hydrophobic blocks. The hydrophobic blocks are selected from polyisoprene, polybutadiene, polymethylsiloxane, methylphenylsiloxane, polyacrylates of 3-4C alcohols, polymethacrylates of 3-4C alcohols, hydrogenated polyisoprene, and/or polybutadiene.Preferred Process: The precursor mixture is hydrolyzed under acidic conditions. The polyethylene oxide-containing polymer or polyethylene oxide and lithium salt (preferably lithium carboxylate or lithium sulfonate) are added to organic solvent (preferably chloroform and/or tetrahydrofuran). The lithium salt is an organic lithium salt containing halogenated organic anion and fluorinated organic anion, especially lithium trifluoromethyl sulfonate. EXAMPLE - (3-glycidyloxypropyl)-trimethoxysilane (GLYMO) and aluminum-sec-butoxide were hydrolyzed to form a sol. The sol was blended with polyethylene oxide (PEO) (molecular weight 600 g/mol, polydispersity index 1.2) and lithium triflate, using a 1:1 mixture of tetrahydrofuran and trichloromethane. The organic solvent was removed. An organic-inorganic hybrid network blended at the molecular level with PEO and the lithium salt and exhibiting remarkable mechanical properties, was obtained. Oligoethylene oxide moieties generated through the sol-gel process from GLYMO, provided the hybrid compatible with PEO. The hybrid electrolyte comprised anionic-form of aluminum component as an inclusion.    DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) results showed a glass transition at -34 degrees C, which increased to -15 degrees C and broadened as the hybrid content was near 100%. Glass transition temperature (Tg) was increased with Li/PEO ratio. Conductivity increased as the temperature was increased reaching 10(-4) S/cm at 60 degrees C. A sample with hybrid to PEO ratio of 0.42 had transference number of 0.7. The sample with highest conductivity had transference number of 0.53. A pronounced drop in mechanical modulus from 10(9)-10(7) Pa was observed at -35 degrees C, corresponding to the PEO glass transition. The material had the mechanical strength of a rubbery material. The hybrid electrolyte comprised 4-fold and 6-fold coordinate aluminum. The nano-structured material showed a single motionally narrowed resonance.