TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Component: The polypeptide can participate in transporting protons from the first side to the second side of the layer and/or can facilitate the passage of current across the layer to a degree at least greater than that which would be possible using an identical biocompatible membrane without the polypeptide. It can participate in transporting protons from the first side to the second side to be capable of providing at least 10 picoamps/cm2, preferably 10 milliamps/cm2 current density. It is embedded in the layer. It includes block copolymer(s) having a hydrophobic content exceeding its hydrophilic content. It can also participate in a redox reaction. The synthetic polymer material is a mixture of block copolymers.Preferred Composition: The polypeptide is present in at least 0.01 or at least 10 wt.% of the membrane. The block copolymer is provided in at least 35 (preferably 35-99) wt.% based on weight of the membrane. The synthetic polymer material is present in 1-30 wt./volume% and the polypeptide is present in 0.001-10 wt./volume%. At least one detergent is present in 0.01-1 volume/volume%.Preferred Property: The block copolymer has block(s) with an average molecular weight of 1,000-20,000 daltons, and at least a second block having an average molecular weight of 1,000-20,000 daltons. The polymer or copolymer has a molecular weight of 5,000-500,000.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRONICS - Preferred Component: The anode and cathode are placed into electrical contact though a circuit, 10 or 100 milliwatts/cm2 are generated. EXAMPLE - A biocompatible membrane was formed across apertures of a dielectric perforated support using PEG 8000/PROTOLYTE A700 (RTM) membrane. A final solution containing a block copolymer, stabilizing polymer and polypeptide was deposited on the substrate to completely cover the apertures. The membrane was sealed in place within a fuel cell with rubber gaskets to form two chambers, and anode and cathode compartments. The anode and cathode compartments were filled with aqueous electrolyte. The membrane was stable for circa 3 days and the peak current density was 158 mA/cm2.