TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The second electrolyte phase comprises a polymer and a glass-ceramic. The second electrolyte phase comprises a solid electrolyte interphase. The electrolyte contains one or more additives comprising anion receptors, cation receptors and solid-electrolyte interphase formers. The negative electrode is capable of taking and releasing active lithium, sodium, magnesium or calcium ions. The positive electrode further comprises metal oxide comprising: lithium peroxide or lithium oxide; sodium peroxide or sodium oxide; magnesium oxide or magnesium dioxide; or calcium oxide or calcium dioxide. The negative electrode further comprises: one or more alloying materials comprising silicon, germanium, tin, antimony, aluminum, magnesium or bismuth; one or more conversion reaction materials comprising metal oxides, metal hydrides, metal nitrides, metal fluorides, metal sulfides, metal antimonides or metal phosphides. The metal oxide is contained in the air electrode at greater than 20 (preferably greater than 80) mass%. The air electrode is capable of being charged in a battery at greater than 0.2 mA/cm2 to a voltage that is no greater than 1 V above the open circuit voltage of the battery so that greater than 90% of the metal oxide is oxidized. Preferred Method: The method further comprises: providing negative electrode capable of taking and releasing active metal ions; and forming a connection between the negative electrode and the air electrode using an electrolyte.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The oxygen evolving catalyst comprises e.g.: an inorganic anion, which is a halide (preferably iodide), or a pseudohalide; a polyoxometalate; a transition metal complex has a structure of formula (A1)-(A11); a quinone or a quinoid of formula (A12) or (A13); a nitrogen containing aromatic compound, which is a substituted triarylamine compound of formula (A14), aryl diamine compound of formula (A15) or (A16), aryl tetramine compound of formula (A17) or aryl hexamine compound of formula (A18); a substituted phenothiazine compound of formula (A19); a substituted 1,2-bis(3-alkyl-2,3-dihydro-1,3-benzothiazol-2-ylidene) hydrazine compound of formula (A20); a substituted carbazole compound of formula (A21); a sulfur, selenium and/or tellurium containing aromatic compound of formula (A22); a phenoxy compound of formula (A23) or (A24); or a phosphorus containing aromatic compound of formula (A25). The transition metal complex comprising one or more transition metal centers connected to one or more ligands.M = Li, Na, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Nb, Mo, Ru, Pd, Ag, W, Os, Ir, Pt, or Au;R1-R16 = optionally substituted 1-10C alkyl, aryl, 4-8C carbocyclic group, 4-8C heterocyclic group, where the heteroatom is N, O, S, Se, or Te, halo, or a short molecule;X1, X2 = S or O;X = NR, CR2, C=CR2, C=O, S, Se, Te or O; andX1a-X4a = S, Se, O, or Te.The oxygen evolving catalyst is attached to a polymeric structure. The oxygen evolving catalyst has an equilibrium potential that is less than 1.5 (preferably less than 0.1) V above the equilibrium cell voltage. The oxygen evolving catalyst has a turnover number greater than or equal to 100, preferably greater than or equal to 10000. The oxygen evolving catalyst has a solubility in the liquid of greater than or equal to 0.05 M, preferably greater than or equal to 2 M. The liquid is a polar, aprotic solvent. The polar, aprotic solvent comprises ethers, glymes, carbonates, nitriles, amides, amines, organosulfur solvents, organophosphorus solvents, organosilicon solvents, fluorinated solvents or ionic liquids. The electrolyte comprises a second phase that is interposed between the positive and negative electrodes and is semi-permeable and substantially impermeable to the oxygen evolving catalyst.