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Gel-forming battery separators and methods for constructing them. Particles are embedded into pores of a porous support to form a composite. The chemical make-up of surfaces of the particles includes a silanol group. The composite, when contacted with an effective amount of liquid electrolyte, is c

Gel-forming battery separators and methods for constructing them. Particles are embedded into pores of a porous support to form a composite. The chemical make-up of surfaces of the particles includes a silanol group. The composite, when contacted with an effective amount of liquid electrolyte, is capable of forming a gelled matrix that includes electrolyte residing within the porous support. Batteries and methods of forming batteries featuring gel-forming separators are also disclosed. No pre-mixing of siliceous material with electrolyte is required facilitating battery construction.

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What is claimed is: 1. A method for constructing a gel-forming battery separator comprising: providing a porous support; embedding particles into pores of the porous support by applying the particles to a side of the porous support and applying a vacuum to an opposite sick of the porous support, th

What is claimed is: 1. A method for constructing a gel-forming battery separator comprising: providing a porous support; embedding particles into pores of the porous support by applying the particles to a side of the porous support and applying a vacuum to an opposite sick of the porous support, thereby forming a composite, the particles having surfaces comprising a silanol group; and contacting the composite with an effective amount of liquid electrolyte; contact with the liquid electrolyte being capable of forming a gelled matrix comprising electrolyte within the porous support. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the particles are fumed silica particles. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid electrolyte comprises sulfuric acid. 4. A method of forming a battery comprising: providing a container and at least one pair of electrodes; placing gel-forming battery separators between each of the at least one pair of electrodes, each separator comprising: a porous support having particles embedded therein, the particles having surfaces comprising a silanol group; adding liquid electrolyte to the container, the liquid electrolyte having a specific gravity below a predetermined value required to form a gelled matrix when in contact with the separators; and charging the electrodes to form the battery, the charging causing an increase in the specific gravity to the value required to form the gelled matrix. 5. A method according to claim 4, the particles being fumed silica, the liquid electrolyte being sulfuric acid, wherein, the value required to form the gelled matrix is about 1.28.