TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Process: The crosslinked polymers in the skin portion are crosslinked by exposure to UV radiation.Preferred Materials: The crosslinked polymers in the skin portion comprise aromatic or phenolic component, or crosslinking of alkyl or allyl groups. The electrolytic polymeric material is polyether containing phosphazenes, polythioether containing phosphazenes, polyethers containing polysiloxanes, polythioether containing polysiloxanes, polyetherthiol containing phosphazenes, polyetherthiol containing phosphazenes, polyetherthiol containing polysiloxanes, and/or polyetherthiol containing polysiloxanes.Preferred Property: The skin portion has a thickness of 2-10 (preferably 2-3)% of the electrolytic polymeric material thickness. The skin portion exhibits adhesion to aluminum at 35degreesC of less than 1 KN/m2, while the bulk portion exhibits adhesion of greater than 2 KN/m2. The irradiation reduces adhesiveness of the skin portion compared to adhesiveness of the bulk portion by at least50%.Preferred Component: The electrolytic polymer material comprises polymers comprising ligands bonded to a backbone. The ligands comprise an ion-carrying group and a hydrophobic, UV-light absorbing group. The hydrophobic, UV-absorbing group comprises aromatic or phenolic moieties.Preferred Parameter: Irradiation is done with 200-400 nm ultraviolet radiation at a power of 5-50 Watts, for less than 3 hours.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - CERAMICS AND GLASS - Preferred Material: The ceramic precursor is a metal alkoxide.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Material: The ion-carrying group is an ethylene oxy, an ethylene thiol, or an ethylene oxy-thiol group. The metal alkoxide can be silicon alkoxides, titanium alkoxides, zirconium alkoxides, and/or aluminum alkoxides. It can be tetraethylorthosilicate, tetraisopropoxyorthotitanate, zirconium n-butoxide butanol complex, and/or aluminum tri-sec butoxide.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The electrolyte comprises a charge-carrying species of lithium, sodium, or magnesium cations.Preferred Material: The anode is a metal of Group IA and/or Group 2A (preferably lithium or magnesium). The cathode comprises water. EXAMPLE - Poly(bis(phenoxytriethyleneoxy)phosphazene)) was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF), to form a solution of polymer (5-8 wt.%). Tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and ammonia were added to the solution. The polymer solution and ceramic precursor were mixed together and a lithium tetrafluoroborate (6-8 wt.%) was added. The mixture was treated with ultrasonic waves for 30 minutes. A composite material was produced for lithium/water batteries.