TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Composition: The resin/conducting material weight ratio is 0.001-100:1.Preferred Component: The resin includes a plasticizer to increase flexibility of the resin.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The resin is a reaction product of an ester curing agent with a phenolic resole and a base. The phenolic resole is a reaction product of a phenol-reactive aldehyde with an alkaline compound of formula (I):The aldehyde is RCHO or its precursor.The ester curing agent is R3COOR4.R1 = optionally unsaturated 1-8 (preferably 1-2)C alkyl optionally substituted by halogen (preferably Cl) or hydroxy, halogen (preferably Cl), hydroxy, and/or phenyl or benzyl;M = mixture of hydrogen ions and further cation of alkali metal cation (preferably Na, Li, or K), alkaline earth metal cation (preferably Ba, Mg, or Ca), and/or N(R2)4+ ion;R2 = H or 1-4C alkyl;n = 0-2;R = H or 1-8C (preferably methyl);R3 = H or 1-8C (preferably 1-2C) alkyl optionally substituted by halogen;R4 = 1-8C (preferably 1-2C) optionally substituted by hydroxy and/or R3COO-groups, or phenyl optionally substituted by hydroxy, halo (preferably Cl), hydroxy and/or phenyl or benzyl;R4 = 2-10C (preferably 2-4C) alkyl.R3 represents a chemical bond to R4.Preferred Composition: The molar ratio of hydrogen ions/further cation is 2:1-1:1 and provides a pH of greater than 7. The phenol reactive aldehyde is reacted with (I) in a ratio of 1:1-1:3 (preferably 1:1.5-1:3).    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Material: The conducting material comprises carbon and/or non-carbon conductive filler. The carbon is the form of graphite or an amorphous carbon. The non-carbon conductive filler is in the form of metal, metal oxide, and/or metal-coated graphite.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CERAMICS AND GLASS - Preferred Material: The non-carbon conductive filler can be glass.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENERGY - Preferred Device: The electrolyte mechanism is the form of a conduit through which an electrolyte could flow during operation of the cell or in the form of a container into which the electrolyte could be placed during operation of the cell. EXAMPLE - Phenol (5 mol) and sodium hydroxide (0.1 mol) were charged to a reaction vessel and the temperature maintained at 65degreesC while 50% formalin (3 mol) was added. The temperature was raised to 80degreesC and maintained at 80degreesC while a second charged of 50% formalin (7 mol) was added slowly over 30 minutes. The mixture was held at 80degreesC for 60 minutes before 50% sodium hydroxide solution (3.15 mol) was charged maintaining temperature at 80degreesC. The resin was condensed at 80degreesC to a viscosity of 400 cP.