Highly conducting, free standing polymer electrolyte membranes were prepared by gelification of an ethylene carbonate-propylene carbonate lithium methide solution in a poly(vinylidene fluoride)-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymer matrix. The electrochemical characterization showed that these membranes have a room temperature conductivity of the order of 0.5 x 10(-3) cm(-1), an anodic break-down voltage exceeding 4.7 V vs. Li and good compatibility with the lithium metal electrode. These cm properties make these membranes of interest for the development of lithium metal and lithium ion batteries. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.