TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The electrolyte comprises potassium hydroxide. Preferred Material: The chemical polymerization initiator is ammonium persulfate, alkali metal persulfates, and/or peroxides.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Component: The electrolyte comprises potassium hydroxide. Preferred Material: The chemical polymerization initiator is ammonium persulfate, alkali metal persulfates, and/or peroxides.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - POLYMERS - Preferred Component: The polymer matrix membrane comprises a water-soluble or water-swellable polymer; and a chemical polymerization initiator. The water soluble ethylenically unsaturated acids and acid derivatives of the polymer matrix membrane have a formula R2-(R1)C=(R3)C-C(=O)-R4.R1-R3=H, C, 2-6C alkanes, 2-6C alkenes, 2-6C alkynes, aromatics, halo, carboxylic acid derivatives, sulfates, or nitrates;R4=NR5, NHR5, NH2, OH, H, halides, OR5, or carboxylic acid derivatives;andR5=H, C, 2-6C alkanes, 2-6C alkenes, 2-6C alkynes, or aromatics.Preferred Compound: The water soluble ethylenically unsaturated acids and acid derivatives of the polymer matrix membrane are methylenebisacrylamide, acrylamide, methacrylic acid, acrylic acid, fumaramide, fumaric acid, N-isopropylacrylamide, N,N-dimethylacrylamide, 3,3-dimethylacrylic acid, and/or maleic anhydride. They are 1-vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone, and/or the sodium salt of vinylsulfonic acid. The crosslinking agent of the polymer matrix membrane is methylenebisacrylamide, ethylenebisacrylamide, any water-soluble N,N'-alkylidene-bis(ethylenically unsaturated amide), and/or 1,3,5-triacryloylhexahydro-1,3,5-triazine. The water-soluble or water-swellable polymer of the polymer matrix membrane is polysulfone (anionic), poly(sodium-4-styrenesulfonate), carboxymethyl cellulose, polysulfone (anionic), sodium salt of poly(styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid), and/or corn starch. Preferred Composition: The ethylenically unsaturated acids or acid derivatives of the polymer matrix membrane comprises 5-50, preferably 10-20 wt.%, of the total monomer solution before polymerization. The crosslinking agent of the polymer matrix membrane comprises 0.01-15, preferably 1-3 wt.%, of the total monomer solution before polymerization. The water-soluble or water-swellable polymer of the polymer matrix membrane comprises less than 30, preferably 1-10, more preferably 1-4 wt.% of the polymer matrix material. The chemical polymerization initiator comprises less than 3 wt.% of the polymer matrix material.