Solid gel membrane separator in rechargeable electrochemical cells

A rechargeable electrochemical cell comprising a separator, a metal anode, an air cathode, and a charging electrode,

• wherein said separator comprises a hydroxide conducting polymer-based solid gel membrane comprising a support onto which a polymer-based gel having a hydroxide species contained within a solution phase thereof is formed,
• wherein said polymer-based gel comprises polysulfone and a polymerization product of methylenebisacrylamide, acrylamide, and methacrylic acid,
• wherein said hydroxide species comes from an aqueous alkaline solution having a concentration ranging from about 0.1 wt. % to about 55 wt. % potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide, or a mixture thereof,
• wherein said hydroxide species is added to said methylenebisacrylamide, acrylamide, and methacrylic acid, and said polysulfone prior to polymerization,
• wherein said air cathode and said charging electrode may be a single bifunctional electrode or may be individual and separate electrodes,
• wherein said separator is positioned between said metal anode and said charging electrode,
• wherein said polymerization is carried out using radical generating radiation selected from the group of x-ray, γ-ray, and ultraviolet radiation;
• and
• wherein the ionic conductivity of said separator is at least about 0.10 S/cm.